Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Have you ever felt like God is trying to get your attention? Perhaps you keep hearing the same phrase, or having different people tell you the same thing. Or maybe, during your prayer time, it seems like God keeps telling you something that you’re just on the verge of understanding, but not quite there yet.

I’ve been going through some tough things recently. It seems like there’s never enough money in the bank, time in the day, gas in the car, food in the fridge… Well, you get the idea… There’s just one of me and suddenly way too many things clamoring for my attention.

At the same time, I have one teenager who’s been conscientiously reminding me that there are only 18 more months until she leaves home for school. And there are so many things I still want to teach her before she launches out into the big wide world.

Then there’s my son’s upcoming birthday. I’m seeing him become a young man before my very eyes, and wondering whether I’ve taught him enough to be a good husband to someone some day, or what’s missing that his future wife will lament I never taught him?

College visits, high school decisions, speaking, writing, working… My To Do list and all the things I put on myself can easily weigh me down.

I was in “that space” earlier this week. I’d had to do something that I really didn’t want to do. Being forced to do it made me angry and resentful. And when it was done and over with, I felt sick.

I wrote to my prayer partners and my mother, letting them know it was done, and asking for prayers for peace.

One by one, without copying the others, each one wrote back and reminded me that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Earlier in my faith walk, this was the second verse that I’d adopted as a life verse. So, with the separate reminders, I got the hint. “Yes, Lord. I get it. I’m to trust in you…”

I have a friend who shares his scripture readings in the wee hours of the morning with whomever God puts on his heart. Wouldn’t you know, as I was waking up the next morning, checking my e-mail while my kids were getting ready for the bus, but there’s a message from Johnny in my inbox.

I’ll give you one guess which scripture reading he felt led to share with me!

God wants us to rest in him. To trust him even when we don’t know what he’s doing, and can’t see how any good could possibly come out of what he’s asking us to do.

Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to contribute to a Chicken Soup for the Soul book that seemed like it was right up my alley. Yet, as I wrote and worked on my submission, God laid it on my heart to let it go. It wasn’t part of his plan for me this year. That’s not to say it will never be part of his plan. It’s just this particular time, it wasn’t for me.

Setting my writing aside and accepting his leading was easier than I’d anticipated it would be. Sometimes, we’re just called to submit.

I was talking with Johnny about this yesterday, and he said to me that when we try to take charge, we’re wresting control away from the One who should have it. When we think “I should” or “I must” we’re putting a burden on ourself that we weren’t meant to bear up under. If we say instead “I choose to” or “I’ve decided to” then we’re allowing the decision to be a positive experience, even if it’s not what we would have wanted of our own accord.

Sometimes, I hear writers talk about how hard it is to discipline themselves to write. But is that because you feel that you should or that you must? Why not try choosing to or deciding to, and see how much better that feels. You already know that if God calls you to it, he’ll see you through it! And when you make the effort, he’ll honor it as you honor him with the gifts that he’s given you.