It’s not just Christian Kool-aid; it’s the word and promise of God.<\/p>\n
The problem with getting our own way is getting our own way.<\/strong><\/p>\n Get it?<\/p>\n Getting our own way, considering who is doing the deciding – and, yes, I’m talking about you (and me) – is not the great idea that it may initially seem to be. \u00a0It’s his purpose God is working toward, not mine. \u00a0And that is a good thing. \u00a0A very good thing.<\/p>\n Let’s think about this for a minute, turning around what we consider to be a very negative obstacle – not getting our own way, whether on the job, school, with our family or friends – into a refreshing bit of perspective.<\/p>\n Let me share some helpers:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1) No rose-tinted glasses allowed. If we always run from the sadness and pain, we will never see Jesus waiting to carry us along.<\/strong><\/p>\n 2) No drinking the cliche Kool-aid. 3) Pretend you are in control. 4) Expect to draw closer to God in the middle of your struggle. 5) Know that no one ever really gets their own way, not always.<\/p>\n There is always some person, or group of people, to “throw a stick in our spokes.”\u00a0 Look at some of the relatively recent upheavals in countries with strong-armed leadership.\u00a0 Moammar Gaddafi comes to mind.\u00a0 It seemed he got his own way in everything but his last moments on this Earth were spent begging for his life.<\/p>\n * My greatest blessing in not getting my own way. What we cannot do per this text:<\/strong><\/p>\n What we can and should do:<\/strong><\/p>\n My life has been one of great joy and great anguish, at times it seems both amazing and tragic. \u00a0I have gone through periods where I could barely stand to have the phone ring. \u00a0What sadness or hurt is waiting on the other end?<\/p>\n But I have amazing joy and complete trust in God and his sovereign ways in the affairs of people in general and my life specifically. \u00a0I trust him with my life and the planet.<\/p>\n God doesn’t promise to answer why<\/strong> these things happen, but he will answer who – Jesus Christ<\/strong>. \u00a0A God who is there; a God who cares; a God who is King and Savior. \u00a0He answers the enigma of life with the person and presence of Christ.<\/p>\n And all I can say is: \u00a0Amen!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s not just Christian Kool-aid; it’s the word and promise of God. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His … Continue reading
\nLearn to appreciate the times when things do not go your way.\u00a0 When things go sideways and we are hurt and discouraged or just plain angry, then these are times when we trust God and it means something.\u00a0 Pretending that we are okay when we are not only means that we are getting better at pretending and worse at looking for truth.<\/p>\n
\nWhen you do not get your way, face your frustration or sadness or anger honestly.\u00a0 We cannot drink in truth if our actions are driven by dishonesty.\u00a0 Even if we are quoting Bible verses along the way.\u00a0 We are not hiding these words of God in our heart at these times; we are merely installing a ring of defense with our denial.\u00a0 Hiding in our denial, we distance ourselves from Christ with this protective, human-made layer around our heart.\u00a0 We haven\u2019t dealt with reality; we have run from it.<\/p>\n
\nScary thought indeed.\u00a0 What would happen if you were doing all the deciding?\u00a0 I’m serious.\u00a0 Do any of us think that we really know how all of this should work out?\u00a0 We all have good ideas.\u00a0 (At least most of us do.)\u00a0 But we don’t have them all.\u00a0 What would your world look like if you really always “got your own way.”<\/p>\n
\nRemember to bow before God. \u00a0Now that we have stepped away from the Kool-aid pitcher and are looking at the reality of life, both wonderful and horrible, know that we only see clearly in moments of great pain from God’s throne room.\u00a0 When I allow God to speak to me in my frustration and\/or anger and\/or sadness, I worship.\u00a0 And from a position of being bowed low before God I trust him as I never have. \u00a0I, in fact, do trust him with my life.<\/p>\n\n
\nBut when I tried to understand this,\u00a0it was too difficult for me. \u00a017 <\/sup> Only when I came into God\u2019s holy place\u00a0did I finally understand what would happen to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n<\/strong>The greatest blessing that God has given me as I trust him when things do not go my way is a powerful, sincere satisfaction that he is in control and I am not, and it fills me with his peace that extends beyond my life circumstances and this world. \u00a0I embrace his purpose for my life and this world.<\/p>\n\n
\nGod\u2019s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep that it is impossible to explain his decisions or to understand his ways.\u00a0 34 \u201cWho knows how the Lord thinks?\u00a0 Who can become his adviser?\u201d\u00a0 35 Who gave the Lord something which the Lord must pay back?\u00a0 36 Everything is from him and by him and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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