June 10
DebDay 88: Bullet Points
Our elders and elder candidates took our weekly walk together this morning. Somehow, a moving meeting suits me. We talk. We pray. And we get our steps in.
But the mood between us was somber. None of us slept particularly well the night before. We're all tired of trying to do life, lead our families, figure out how best to lead our church, all while the news and narratives in our city, state, nation world continue to discourage.
But God has to be up to something, right? He has a purpose (probably countless purposes) for everything going on, right? It's not like He's been on hiatus for the past 3+ months, right?
It also doesn't require we understand (or approve) His purposes at all. He's not asking.
With that in mind, and not at all planned, my reading in Isaiah earlier this morning addressed just this.
Isaiah 55:8-9 tells me, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
It doesn't even take faith on my part to believe that. If I (or anyone) believes God is Who He says He is, then His thoughts and ways have to be higher than mine.
But this theme continues in the following verses.
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
As my brain more readily onboards information in bullet points, here's what I take in.
Bullet Point #1 - We will not ever know the full intent or impact of what the Lord is doing during this present season.
Bullet Point #2 - While I may regard rain (especially) and snow (sometimes) as inconveniences, God utilizes whatever He chooses for His purposes. Even hardship.
Bullet Point #3 - And, whatever the Lord says is what will happen. He will succeed. He will not be denied. The God who spoke all of Creation into existence then is the same God who speaks His will into existence now.
Like you, I don't know what's going on. Nor do I perceive why. I don't see the layers, let alone the imperceptible layers of His thoughts and ways.
I'm not supposed to.
His thoughts and ways are to move us closer to Him. Not answers. Him.
-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau
