Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:“Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer me.
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Job 38: 1-7
Many years ago, when I had a teenaged girl, a preteen boy, a "different" 9 year old boy who was being bullied and acting out, and a pre-schooler who wanted me to play with her all the time, I had a lot of worries on my heart. We were involved in a church that was about to split, had our new conference ministry and Clay was gone from home from Sunday evening until Thursday night at our ministry office and mother-in-law's home. I was handling so much of life during that time and had lots of worries.
One night, I had a dream. And I am not given to dreams--only two that God has used in my lifetime. In the dream, I was worrying and God came to me and said, "Sally, climb up into my hand."
I did and He took me in the flash of an eye up, up, up into the myriads of stars in galaxies far beyond our planet. It was so infinitely full of stars, lights, an expanse of heavens I had never imagined.
God seemed to say, "How expansive is my work?"
I said, "Endless."
He said, "Now look down where we came from, where your home, children and problems are. How big do they look from this point of view?"
"They are tiny in comparison. I can barely even notice them."
"That is how tiny they are in light of eternity. I will take care of them for you. You remember my infinite power and love."
And immediately, I awakened.
Nothing had changed, but my heart was at peace. I had a bigger perspective and I believed that God was bigger than all of my worries.
As I look at my life from a 63 year old perspective, I can now see that God did guide me, He was at work, He was doing more than I could possibly see or understand in the life of my family, in the heart of my "different" children. I wish I had fretted less and gained a long term vision for HIs ways and purposes in my life.
Evidently, Job questioned God, too.
"Why did this happen to me? Where are you? How will I find justice? How will I make it?"
We all feel this way many times in our lives. Yet, God's answer to Job was not specific to HIs problems, but was like in my dream, pointing him to the infinite mysteries and creations of the expanse of God's handiwork.
A beginning point for us to live our story well is to gain a perspective of God's purposes being greater than we can understand. Also, to engage in the knowledge that even in the infinite mysteries of life that are far greater than we can understand, He is there, He is able to carry us, He is able to work more than we could ever imagine.
We read in Isaiah, ""For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9
A part of me began to find a way forward in all the big issues of my life, including the raising of my very different and unique children while learning to let God be God--I chose to believe that even though it would take me a long time to understand, that He was working even when I could not see, and that His ways were far bigger and greater than my little mind could comprehend.
My bottom line was to be "all in" and to live by faith in the days He gave and the children I had; and the marriage I needed to learn how to be mature in; and the tasks that needed to be done; and the finances that were always a stress; and and and. He was God, He would lead, He would take care--mine was to be his child and to trust Him with what was too large for me to comprehend.
Vision for life grows when we see the attributes of God and understand that when we trust Him, He works beyond what we could have ever imagined. It takes gaining a bigger perspective and then leaving our issues in His hands and choosing to walk in His peace, His provision and HIs ways.
I hope you will enjoy this podcast today: 4 Ways to Begin Growing in Perspective
I would love to hear your perspective, know your questions, hear your thoughts as we discuss the chapters of Different--this week the intro and the first two chapters.
Be sure to get a copy of Different so you can join Kristen and me in our book discussion and club the next few weeks. Ask your questions in the comments for what you would like us to discuss A Different Kind of Parenting Series. Buy HERE:
