 “Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. ‘Abraham!’ God called.
‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Here I am.’ ‘Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you’” (Gen. 22:1-2 NLT). Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? God is asking Abraham to kill his own son! But love is sacrifice, not control. Don’t be surprised when God asks you to sacrifice what you love. Because God can’t fully bless what you’re unwilling to let go of.  There’s a deerstalker on your head. Slightly below, your eyes squint through a magnifying glass. Dressed in a suit and tie, you walk warily from one place to another. It’s the appearance of Sherlock Holmes, but it’s the lifestyle of countless individuals today.
There’s a game I play when I strive to know the way. It’s called “detective,” and it’s not fun. I consider the possibilities, attempting to locate the best possible outcome. But here’s the problem: I don’t know the best possible outcome. Therefore, I spend an unnecessary amount of time trying to find an answer to a question beyond my pay grade.  Many forms of chaos exist, but personal weakness is among the most debilitating. It’s not that I have bad intentions. It’s just that my good intentions often fail to manifest through my actions. Because of this, my self-expectations are often unmet, leaving me disappointed with my performance. Therefore, I struggle heavily with self-destruction. I know I’m exposing you to my daily chaos, but honesty is necessary.
It’s difficult for me to recuperate from my failures. After all, Jesus is perfect, and He desires me to live a holy life. But I often neglect the fact that Jesus doesn’t expect perfection from my life.  If we’re stepping without the need for faith, we’re walking outside the will of God.
In a nutshell, that’s my message. But wait, there’s more! About a month ago, I purchased my first car. A deal was made, the paperwork was signed, and it officially became mine. I was so excited! After all, I’d been looking forward to this moment ever since I first obtained my driver’s license nearly two years prior. Much to my disappointment, my prized possession needed some minor repairs. Therefore, I had to wait a couple of days before taking the car home.  Do you have any questions about your life? Wondering where God is taking you? Concerned about what’s next? Yeah, me too. But that’s okay. You see, we’re all searching for answers. And even though it’s difficult to handle uncertainty, God will always provide in due time.
The Bible says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Rom. 8:28 NLT). |