As a Christian, if you are spiritually awake (and you should be), you will begin to notice patterns as you walk with the Lord. These are His way of revealing His character to us. I’ve heard many Christians use a somewhat rhetorical question to convey a lack of understanding in a situation, saying, “who can know the ways of the Lord?” It’s easier for them to explain away something they can’t understand– God’s purpose going on in our life– than to examine the situation. 2 Samuel 22:22 says, “For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.” If we weren’t able to know His ways, how could we possibly follow them? What we can be sure of though is that sometimes His ways which try us¹ hurt. We have to remember that every single thing that we go through as God’s people is for purpose. It’s for our individual benefit and it’s for a collective benefit as a witness and testimony to others.

In nature, plants have no idea a hurricane is coming. They’ve got no warning that while today is bright and sunny and calm, tomorrow there will be roaring winds that will shear off branches, strip away leaves, and try the strength of their roots. In winter, the temperature may already be cool, but frost comes without an announcement. The water within the plant’s cells freezes causing expansion and rupture of the cell walls. This damages the tissue and in the end causes wilting, browning, or shriveling. In other words, there is a response to the elements. These are things the plant has absolutely no control over and yet if we could ask the plant, these things would be devastating. For those who rely on crops or orchards or groves for their livelihood, they would speak the same. Spiritually we are no different. We have no clue that on any given day, after walking in relative calm in our lives that in a moment, we will suddenly find ourselves feeling like we’re in survival mode. Things in our lives can begin to snowball all at once and like snow, what isn’t so bad at first with those first flakes, can quickly become heavy and burdensome, bringing darkness with it.

It takes two hands to make a snowball. And if those hands are God’s hands, then I know that whatever is coming my way is for my good. It’s either been purposed by God to accomplish His will for me, or if the enemy is coming against me, the Lord will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good. I’ve got to trust in Him and in all of His ways, that no matter how it looks to me, He will perfect that which concerns me. (Psalm 138:8) He knows what we’re made of. He’s the Creator. He’s the manufacturer. He is the One who knows me better than I know myself. So it’s up to me to encourage myself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6) and to remind myself, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ” (Philippians 4:13) He gives me strength. He gives me support. He gives me unfailing love. He is my provider. He is my deliverer. We can’t forget the things He has taught through the fires we’ve walked through in the past. If you earned the badge, don’t forget the lesson. If a raging storm blows your way, or if searing heat, or hail, or torrential rains, when you’re rooted and grounded in Him, whatever comes will make you a stronger Christian. Do not rely on your thoughts, feelings, or opinions. You must rely solely upon Him; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In ALL of your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5,6) That means that even when our way is despair, give it to Him. If our way is in anger, give it to Him. If our way is depression, give it to Him. If the Lord is my Shepherd, I can be assured of a few things.

• There is nothing I lack
• He will give me rest in pleasant pasture
• He will lead me and quench my thirst
• He will restore, refresh, and repair my soul
• He will again lead me in righteous paths for His name’s sake
• I will walk through the valley and in the shadow of death, but He is with me all the way. I have nothing to fear as He will mark the way in guidance and correction
• In the face of my enemies, He will set a table for me to sup with Him
• He will anoint my head with oil
• My cup will run over with His abundance and provision
• His goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life
• I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

So when I put whatever I’m going through in that perspective, it becomes more clear that I CAN boldly say, ““The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?” (Heb 13:6; Psalm 56:11; Psalm 118:6)

-CC

1. [Ps 7:9] Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
   [Ps 11:5] The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
   [Prov 17:3] The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
   [1 Thess 2:4] But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. ↩︎