Hand of God!

I heard a quote today that I had never heard before, but there is definitely some truth to it. The quote was, “If you missed the bus, maybe you avoided the accident.” We have become a people that expect instant results. When something doesn’t go the way we want, we often react negatively. The original saying probably just tried to soften the disappointment of setbacks by holding out that maybe there was a reason for the situation. While that might bring a little comfort, in a world that doesn’t seem to have much faith anymore, it means very little to them. I do believe that this saying has a greater influence on our relationship with God. As Christians, we are not meant to look like the world in what we do. I believe God would desire us to seek His direction and wisdom when we make decisions, both great and small. Before we go to work, we ought to seek God’s leading in what we will say and do. Before we drive, we should be seeking God’s protection from harm and mechanical troubles. Before we go to church, we should be asking for God to speak to us through the word, songs, prayers, etc. Someone might ask whether or not God might get impatient with us or that we might bother Him with our petitions. If we come, truly seeking God’s direction, it brings Him honor for us to lean on Him. If we are depending on God to lead us, then we must consider that when things don’t appear to be going right, maybe there is a reason. God’s timing is perfect. He knows what will happen before we even know there is an issue. Do we see the need to lean on God in the Bible? Joshua, before they battled Jericho, listened to what God told him to do, and the end result was a great victory. The next battle, at Ai, was a smaller town with less fortification. Joshua didn’t seem to think consulting with God was necessary, but the result was getting pushed back. Then they sought God and won the battle again. We can’t live in the “What if...” thinking, always trying to imagine what would happen if I had done this or that. That time is gone. We must learn from the past but lean all the more heavily on God for the future. Sometimes things happen just because and other times they happen by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Lord, teach us to rely on You in all that we do. Help us to see in the setbacks how we might overcome with Your help. Amen