Lately I have found myself getting bogged down in the day-to-day things of life. While there are so many blessings to be thankful for, I have felt my joy waning. As Christians, I think that we equate joy with a perpetual happiness. In reality though, God does not promise us a continual spiritual “high”. It is one that we must purposefully seek. I tried to remember when the last time was that I had sat down to spend quality time with God’s word. The fact that I had to “try and remember” meant that it had been too long. Reading snippets of scripture and short prayers is a good way to get through the day, but not a substitute for sustaining the peace that God has promised us (John 14:27). So, I stopped my musings and headed for the kitchen table with Bible in hand.
I found myself in the book of Isaiah, chapters 51 through 55 – just the thing I needed. In these scriptures a beautiful picture is foretold of God’s plan of redemption. The verses that really resonated with me though were in chapter 55, verses 8 and 9:
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
What a reassurance and visualization God gave us with this passage. He sees all, He knows all, and He is working for our good (Romans 8:28). It is so hard sometimes to remember that He’s got our back. It’s not up to me to fix the world and all that I find wrong with it. It’s up to me to turn to Him and seek His guidance because He’s already overcome the world.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (ESV)
Giving God the Glory 