BE-Gratitudes: 30 Days of Positive Attitudes – Comforted
November 9th, 2021
Day Nine: Comforted
Isaiah 55:8-12a, ‘For my thoughts about mercy are not like your thoughts, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so my ways and my thoughts are higher than yours. “As the snow and rain that fall from heaven do not return until they have accomplished their purpose, soaking the earth and causing it to sprout with new life, providing seed to sow and bread to eat. So also will be the word that I speak; it does not return to me unfulfilled. My word performs my purpose and fulfills the mission I sent it out to accomplish.” For you will leave your exile with joy and be led home wrapped in peace.’ (TPT)
I thought I had it all figured out, God. I thought I knew what You were thinking and kind of felt like I knew how You might choose to do things. I mean, after all, I was becoming proficient with Your Words, had been seeking Your face. I knew it wouldn’t be my way; in fact, praise You, it wouldn’t be done my way! But after a great deal of thought, I imagined You might choose to weave details together in a fashion creating a tapestry to look rather like an image I’d conjured up for what life might hold next. It made sense; it was Scriptural. Your heart was plastered all over what I envisioned. I thought you were speaking in this language rather than that language this time. I had no idea. And because I had no idea, it came as such a huge surprise, it rocked my world. I am still reeling from the way this is playing out. I never would’ve guessed You would do things this way.
So I stumble across this passage today, and I am reminded, there isn’t a snatch of me which can guess the mind of Christ. Not a speck of me can fathom Your ways. And because I felt I understood where and when and how You were leading, and all my plans for You to follow—because that’s really what it is; I just made it seem more spiritual by telling myself I thought You were leading down one path, instead of me directing You to take another path—the crushing in the surprise, the impenetrable unpreparedness, the baffling rerouting, leaves me gasping and breathless.
I am so in need of Your comforting. It’s almost laughable though; I set myself up to be let down. You wrap Yourself around me like a blanket, link Your arms in mine, permeate my devastated heart with hope again. “I will perfect that which concerns you (Ps 138:8),” You murmur, a steadfast whisper in my soul. I can choose to be wary and let down by my own misgivings of thinking I knew Your ways and understood Your thoughts, or I can choose to be soothed by Your Promises which will never run out or return void. It’s up to me what I choose but both options offer vastly different outcomes; therefore, I reap the benefits or sow the consequences. Thank You, God, for another chance to trust You.
