Uncertain of God?

I was reading in my devotional book this morning, Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest (from now on, I'll just refer to it as "OC says"), and OC said something about our need as humans to be precise, to know what is going on and what is going to happen. That idea lines up perfectly with one of my more favorite scriptures, Jeremiah 11:29: 'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

I like knowing what God has planned for me. I like knowing what will happen next and in fact, I try very hard to control what will happen next. In rehab, we called that "future tripping." Future tripping is not good, because my expectations so often went unmet.

OC went on to say that it is only commonsense to want certainty. But of course, when does God ever do things in a common sense way? OC tells us to abandon ourselves to God - to place our certainty in Him, rather than in our own expectations. I like that - I can do that.

He admonishes that though we can't know what tomorrow brings, instead of facing our future with fear, sadness or trepidation, we should look forward with breathless expectations what God may have in store for us. I was thinking about that this morning, and got all excited about looking for wonderful things to happen to me and for me today.

Then I saw the news. I heard more about the devastation in the south land of our great country, the death toll rising from the horrible storms, the loss of property. I saw a woman picking through the shattered remains of her home and heard her tell the reporter that she was just trying to find something, a small memento, to help her have the courage to pick up and start over again.

And I thought, how does that tragedy line up with what I just read? How do we look forward with breathless expectation - when the wind can come along and destroy everything that is precious to us in a matter of 60 seconds? Am I right to place my faith in the certainty of God - the same God who controls that wind and allows such tragedy to happen?

And my friends, the answer is a resounding yes. Because, as OC finishes his reading for today, he reminds us that Jesus says to believe in Him. Pure and simple. We are not to just believe certain things ABOUT him, but to believe in Him. "Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in—but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him."

My heart is filled with compassion for those who are suffering today, both here in America and across the world. But the choice to trust the One who who will always come in when He is invited is mine, and mine alone. And if He comes in, and goes with me, I can go forward, through anything that life throws at me.

Today, I choose to trust Him, and so I look forward to the rest of my day with "breathless expectation."