Thoughts on circumstances

Written by Chris Perver

Wednesday, 28 March 2007 17:00

As a few of you may know, I have been very unsettled in my life the past few months. The reason why doesn't really matter, as different circumstances affect each one of us in our lives, and its easy for any one of us to question why, or complain to God. And we wouldn't be the first ones to do so. Job, David, Elijah, Paul and many other men of God questioned the reason for the particular circumstances they were in. I'm a hypocrite, for I keep telling people that we need to see the bigger picture regarding Israel, and not to be distressed by the events that will befall the nation in the not too distant future. The reason why we don't need to be distressed is because God has a plan. It is in His Sovereign Will that the Jewish nation be brought to an end of themselves, before turning to the Messiah. Jesus Christ said how often He would have wished to gather up those dear Jewish people in His arms, and they would not come! (Matthew 23:37). But God's ultimate plan for Israel is to bless them, as I was reminded today by my friends Cheryl and Judy. And this is the verse Judy quoted today...

Isaiah 60:15-16
Whereas you (Israel) have been forsaken and hated, so that no one went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, A joy of many generations. You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles, and milk the breast of kings; You shall know that I, the Lord, am your Saviour And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Of course before all this comes to pass, Israel will have to endure the greatest period of persecution they have ever seen. But all this is according to God's plan, and God has promised He will not make a full end of the nation (Jeremiah 4:27). Well I have been so discontented lately, wondering if God has forgotten about me, and wondering when He is going to grant me deliverance. But talking about all this reminded me of a particular song by Len Magee, about the difference between God's perspective and man's perspective. As the Lord says, My ways are not your ways, and my thoughts are not your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Some of the lyrics from the song are "I see confusion, You see a plan; I can't conceive of what You understand; You see the glory, I see the cross; You see the gain, but I see the loss; and I need to see things clearly again". God sees the future laid out before Him, just like we see the past laid out behind us. The wonder is that we get so concerned about our futures! If God can see the future, and the Bible states in Revelation that He knows the beginning from the ending (Revelation 1:8), then God must have a plan for each one of our lives. Jesus Christ said not to be anxious about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34), and He knows...

a) what is best for our lives
b) what is best for others in our lives
c) what things we need
d) what things might be a snare to us
e) what He wants us to do and be for Him

If God knows all these things, then any stress or anxiety on my part is wasted energy. I am trusting Him that I am where He wants me to be today, that I will be where He wants me to be tomorrow, and forever.