Solutions Vs. Steadfastness

Psalm 143:7-8

Answer me quickly, O LORD!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

Keep a Quiet Heart

by Elisabeth Elliot

When we need help, we wish we knew somebody who is wise enough to tell us what to do, reachable when we need him, and even able to help us. God is. Omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent - everything we need. The issue is confidence in the Shepherd Himself, a confidence so complete that we offer ourselves without any reservation whatsoever and determine to do what He says.

What He says? But how shall I know that?

He calls us every day, "o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea." He comes to us in the little things, in the ordinary duties which our place in life entails...

It's alluring to think of our own situation as very complex and ourselves as deep and complicated, so that we waste a good deal of time puzzling over "the will of God."...

Although people in Bible times often heard God speak, we can expect that He will usually speak today through conscience, through the written Word, through other people, and through events...

Three questions may help to clarify the call of God. Have I made up my mind to do what he says, no matter what the cost? Am I faithfully reading His Word and praying? Am I obedient in what I know today of His will? (p. 155-156)

We went to sleep last night, pulling up the blankets and feeling ourselves covered securely in our prayers for wisdom over those burdens, trials, and challenges I previously mentioned. We woke this morning and prayed together before getting out of bed. We prayed for peace and grace, strength for the day, and wisdom in living according to God's Word.

As I poured my coffee this morning I had no idea what we would do about some of these burdens and I am beginning to desire that we could take a shovel and scoop them away. That would not be dealing with them at all - just avoiding them! I am trusting that God wants us to walk through these many minor inconveniences at this time for His glory, so wishing them away would not be honoring our sovereign God who is all sufficient for this time and season of our lives.

God's Word is a precious gift and as I sat down to sip my coffee this morning I soaked up the passage above and the devotional Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot. I highly recommend this book! Often inwardly my heart is noisy, complaining, worried, anxious, and rude. Those heart attitudes are bound to come seeping out throughout the day and it is so important to set my heart right each morning and throughout each day by keeping a right focus on God's Word. Being quiet before the Lord each day has been so refreshing for me.

This morning I was delighted to be able to see that the focus of my wondering "Oh, what to do?!?" over each small (and growing) anxiety was misplaced. I was seeking solutions instead of desiring steadfastness in the place where God has put us. I wanted to know what God's will was for fixing these burdens and trials. What is the godly solution? What is the right thing to do? In the end I was left with a much greater peace about just living obediently today, parenting faithfully, trusting completely. Some of the details about how we solve today's trials don't need to be worried over. I can ask myself the three questions listed above with great peace:

• Have I made up my mind to do what He says, no matter what the cost?
• Am I faithfully reading His Word and praying?
• Am I obedient in what I know today of His will?