Dear Ones,
Hope you keep cozy and warm this weekend as it is about -22 degrees!! Our apartment is warm and I like to bake and enjoy the aroma of fresh baked cookies etc. My question for you this week is: When was there a time in your life when you found it hard to trust God as He was answering your prayers in a different way than you had hoped? And did you later discover the wisdom of His plan?
Devotions from Judy’s heart
The answer wasn’t as I hoped: that a friend would get free from pain, but I also know God is in control and His ways are not always our ways. I was reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6 as I was having my devotions, “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth.” The Message says, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He’s the One who will keep you on track.”

We are to trust God even when we don’t understand, for His ways are higher than our ways. I have only to look back on my own life and remember what I thought at the time was disappointing turned out to be God rescuing me from something that would not have been good for me. God is so loving that we can be assured if things aren’t turning out as we hoped, He has something deeper planned for us. We can thank Him in faith, even though we may not make sense of what is happening in the now.

Most of us would like a path of ease, to be free of problems, and to live in comfort every day. But the Lord is more concerned about our souls, even when things are not so much to our liking. At such times, we have to remember God’s ways are higher than our ways and He has purpose in all that touches our lives. It may not seem like it in the present, but He often opens our eyes to see that this will turn out for great good in the future and will strengthen us. One thing is for certain: He is trustworthy and He is working out all the things in our life to make us more like Him.

Challenge for today: Take Proverbs 3:5-6 with you today, and rest in knowing that His ways are good!
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy