Is God in Your Messy Circumstances?

Do you find it tough to see God in your messy circumstances? I do at times. I know He is there. But sometimes it’s hard to understand especially when He seems silent. I continue to pray and thank Him for the answers that I hope will eventually come. But when He is slow to answer, I can get anxious. I sometimes wonder if I will survive these times, let alone grow in the process.

Am I the only one? No.

There’s No Shortage of Messy Lives

As a matter of fact, the Bible gives us snapshots of lives that seemed to be careening out of control.

Like David. He waited years to take the throne after Samuel anointed him, king. Out of jealousy, King Saul sought to kill him. David ran from Saul and his men, often hiding in caves to seek refuge. Yet even when given the opportunity to avenge himself and kill Saul, he didn’t do it. Somehow he knew that Saul was still God’s anointed one. He wouldn’t take control of something that God would make right in His time.

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. For years, he seemed at the mercy of others. He was imprisoned after being wrongfully accused of raping Potipher’s wife. Yet he maintained his reputation of integrity, gaining the favor of the guards. It wasn’t until they remembered his God-given ability to interpret dreams, that he emerged from the darkness of a hopeless sentence to interpret Pharoah’s dream. When Pharoah saw Joseph’s wisdom, he put him in charge of the granaries to survive the coming famine. I’m sure it seemed like a long time to see God’s plan and purpose unfold. But Joseph’s position in Egypt saved his people from starvation and ultimately reunited him with his family.

It is easy to lose hope when circumstances crowd us. Yet through David and Joseph’s experiences, we see that God was there all the time. They were never left alone. God saw them and continued to watch over them as part of His bigger story.

Changing our View

When we #FaceDifficulties, our field of vision, what we zoom in on, becomes very small—like using the macro lens of a camera. When #LifeGetsMessy Click To Tweet

When we face difficulties, our field of vision, what we zoom in on, becomes very small—like using the macro lens of a camera. We are in survival mode and find it hard to see beyond the moment of struggle. But God sees with a wide-angle lens. His purpose depends on the actions of people, events, and time. Yet as we walk with Him, we discover He is never late with His answers. His actions, though they seem random to us, are dependent on His plan for our lives and those around us.

Is God in Your Messy Circumstances? #LifeGetsMessy but God is there with you. Click To Tweet 

So when life gets messy, I can trust that He has everything under control.

I’m sure you have experienced hardships over the last couple of years. The pandemic has produced anxiety and confusion. Life looks different and that causes fear. Corrie ten Boom said, Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. She lived in the depths of uncertainty in a concentration camp during the war. Yet she continually shared about God’s faithful presence during her ordeal.

God sees the bigger picture and knows the outcome. He is Jehovah-Jireh, our provider. He is trustworthy in all things. As we talk with Him about the things that cause us to fear, He will provide what we need. Soon, the snapshots of our life will begin to create a perfect picture of our faithful God. And when others look back on these portraits, they will say, My how you’ve grown.

Seeing God In Your Mess Today

How about you?

What hardships have brought you to a deeper knowledge of God?

And, if you are in a mess right now, how might you adjust your viewfinder to see His faithfulness?

Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.

See you next time,

Jeanne

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