"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7
One of the many comforts I have in life, is the comfort of knowing who really is in control of my life. Knowing I have a safe place to run when the circumstances (or events) that surround living, just refuse to listen to me. It always seems as though God waits until the midnight hour...or the last minute of the day...to set things in motion. His timing is perfect, I know. So why didn't He place a microchip in our brain to automatically reset our understanding, when the fleshy one gets out of control with anxious thoughts?
Good question, Mary...
Could it all go back to His love of mankind, His very own creation? Love becomes a perfect thing when it is set free. Free to do it's will, free to make it's own choices. Isn't it ironic how God, who controls the Universe by holding the stars in place, the earth rotating on it's axis...who commands the grass to grow, and the trees to bear fruit...who connects the fibers of our humanness together in our mother's womb...isn't it ironic, how He allows us to navigate life without His control? Even though we are made in the likeness of God, we are not like Him. Unless we choose to be.
Okay...don't throw stones at me just yet.
I don't believe there is one perfect person, other than Jesus Christ, who became flesh to show us how to live and to secure us a place with Him for all eternity...forever and ever and ever and ever. Well, you get the point. I DO believe we can reflect His goodness...His mercy...His grace, through our actions. Not easy, my friends. But then again, anything that is worth anything, is never easy. It just doesn't have much value if it's an easy thing to obtain. Again...God's wisdom as work in us, always teaching through our mistakes.
Let me step back just a bit in this story. It has been six to seven years ago, that God pried my fingers open (in a sense) and assured me He could handle the things I was allowing to destroy me. Life has been much more peaceful since that day. He spoke something (out of the blue) that I will never forget. He reminded me of a time in my life when I was looking for others to make me happy and how He intervened for me. It's always easier to look back and see God's hand in the circumstances of life, than it is to see them immediately at work. However...having said that...it seems as I get older, even this becomes more and more evident. It has become quite clear that it is by God's design, our lives (my family's) have rounded a corner, so to speak. I never dreamed that the last season of my life would mean a transplant. I haven't moved in 37 years! The roots go down pretty deep after that long being in one place. It's amazing what love can do.
I don't know all that God has in store for me and Dennis...for Lindsey & Todd...for Meg and Adam. But what I do know, is that His great love for us all will make it something beautiful! So, even though our house hasn't sold yet...and even though the new salon in North Carolina is going to be ready on schedule (and we aren't there yet)...and even though Todd & Lindsey, Adam & Meg, are also in a life transition...my trust, my hope, continues to be in Him and His grace, His favor, His mercy, His timing.
Waiting patiently...ahem...waiting, here in Mary's World...you will find me.
