Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Worry”
Our Bible verse for today: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Understanding often comes in retrospect.”
In the Bible study “Experiencing God” author Henry Blackaby encourages his readers to create what he calls a spiritual map. He says that we should list, in chronological order, every significant event we can remember in our lives. He means everything from influential people we met, to significant accomplishments, to terrible hardships and tragedies. List things like graduation from school, coming to faith in Christ, marriage, the birth of children, career advancement, list it all.
Henry then encourages us to look backwards over the list to see the hand of God at work in our lives. Often as we do that we can see that although as we were going through those things we were often confused and worried, in retrospect we can see how God was in fact there and at work for our benefit.
This is what Paul was referring to in Romans 8:28. Even in the worst of situations God is there and He is at work for us. He will bring some good thing out of even the worst of circumstances. But usually it’s only after the fact that we can only see that.
Philip Yancey once wrote, “We live life moving forward, but we understand it looking back.” I believe that is true in most cases and therefore we have to move forward in faith, trusting that God is present and at work on our behalf, even if at the moment we don’t understand what’s happening or why. Can we do that? Yes we can, and we must. God sees the big picture but we can see only a very little bit. That’s why in Isaiah 55:8-9 God reminds us:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Rather than worry, we have to trust. If you’re having trouble trading worry for trust, spend some time with your spiritual map. Remember how God has worked in your life in the past and how He has delivered you and protected you time and time again. Then trust Him for the present and for the future. Quoting Philip Yancey again:
“What is faith, after all, but believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse?”
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 