“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” ~ by Oswald Chambers ~
A deliberate confidence - a conscious choice to trust God's truest intentions toward us in every aspect of our lives.
One of the definitions of deliberate is something that is "done or said on purpose ... with full awareness of everything that is involved." (American Heritage Dictionary, Second Edition)
When juries deliberate, they do so with all the information they have available to them. However, they may not be aware of all the evidence or facts, because the legal system sometimes precludes some information from being taken into consideration by the jury.
Our human limitations preclude us from knowing everything we want to know about God and His plans for our lives. Now we "see through a glass darkly... but ...then we shall know as we are known." (I Cor. 13: 12-13 KJV)
Thus, we are operating on limited knowledge about a limitless God. Nevertheless, his Word tells us everything we really need to know about his intentions toward us. More than enough that we may, if we choose to do so, make a deliberate choice to trust him ...
When we do not understand .....
... why the lay off notice came,
When we do not understand ...
... why the diagnosis was so crushing
When we do not understand ...
...why our child's heart has been broken by cruelty
When we do not understand ...
... why our neighbor has turned away our kindest efforts
When we do not understand ...
... why nation rises against nation
When we do not understand ...
...why we must carry on when we see little point to it all
When we do not understand ...
... why innocence is despoiled and greed is glorified ...
Job said, "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10 NIV) And even more deliberately, in the face of daunting blows, "Though God slay me, yet I will trust him..." (Job 13.15 KJV)
Job said, "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10 NIV) And even more deliberately, in the face of daunting blows, "Though God slay me, yet I will trust him..." (Job 13.15 KJV)
When we do not understand .... Then, then is when we exercise the gift of faith and say, but I know God's character is just, and right, and true. That His scales are balanced, that his judgements are fair, and that His mercy will endure forever.
Selah! So be it.
(Please visit Nina, who is hosting this week, at Mama's Little Treasures.)
(Please visit Nina, who is hosting this week, at Mama's Little Treasures.)
I like that verse about seeing through a glass darkly here and now. That is always a good reminder. I should commit that one to memory.
ReplyDeleteHis scales are balanced. Knowing that brings great comfort.
When we do not understand .... Then, then is when we exercise the gift of faith . . .
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to understand God's grace in giving us uncertainty. We can't exercise our faith without it, can we? Thanks for explaining it so clearly Marsha.
D.J. - I agree that it is a great comfort to know that God's scales are always true and honest. Even when, humanly, it sometimes seems like we got "short-changed" in life.
ReplyDeleteTami - Thanks for your feedback. Yes, in some ways,uncertainty is a "gift" to help us develop faith. II Cor. 5:7 - For we live by faith and not by sight.
But we are not born knowing how to do that - we learn it day by day through all life's uncertainties. Glad to know a fellow-learner. God bless you.
Marsha, this was beautiful. Using our limited understanding to comprehend a limitless God--of course we need faith to do that. How silly I am when I forget. Thank you for the gentle reminder.
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