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Listen while you read: "Be Still My Soul"1 (Lyrics) |
I am in the process of selling my house, a long process that I have found to be frustrating, because people are unable to see what an asset our house is to the right person. A few days ago, however, I read this Scripture:
Exodus 14:14 – The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. (ESV)
I immediately suspected, even knew, that this was God's Word for me, and I surrendered. Later that day, the house sold for the asking price, and the people are in a hurry to move in! Amazing! Now, their surveyor is booked to visit, and it is becoming a reality.
So yet again, I find myself not knowing what happens next, with no house to go to, not enough money to live where I want, differences in our expectations, and no way forward as yet.
Knowing what God can do is all very well and good, but it is a whole different thing actually living out faith looking forwards. Essentially, it boils down to not liking being out of control, not knowing or being able to trust what is about to happen next.
My bête noir is sky-diving; for you it could be swimming, maths, work, surgery, death, etc. There is an absence of expectation for a good outcome.
The Bible has all kinds of examples of God's provision for His people, to instill trust in Him. As His chosen people left Egypt for the promised land, they were fearful and wayward, but He showed them a God-given way forward. In effect, God said, "I am taking you the long way around to make it easier for you, because you are not able to cope with life-and-death choices yet." (My version of Exodus 13:17.)
Likewise, in the Gospels, we see Jesus in action: healing people, feeding the 5,000. Here, Jesus is not just doing, but is also evoking faith, challenging the mindset of Palestine about what God can do, and expanding people's expectations.
Whatever the need, I believe that Jesus would say, "I am always with you; ask and know that I hear!" In turn, we have to be ready to wait and see the outcome.
Jeremiah 33:3 – Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (ESV)
The crux is to lay down our presumptions before Jesus, trusting that as we go, Jesus does come with us, unseen.
As I jump out of my life's plane again, maybe you can hear me scream, "Aaarrgggh!" I look forward to heaven; meanwhile, God is taking me around the houses — I assume to show me how to grow deeper in faith!
Prayer: Lord, You are the One Who is Master of all. We praise and thank You for what has passed, and we praise You for what You are about to do. As we ask You into the events where, from our standpoint, we can see no way forward or no beneficial outcome for us, only a free-fall, enable us to sense Your peace and to be silent before You. As we go forward, may You guide us to each of our landings, wherever they may fall. When we get there, may we be ready to serve, in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Amen.
Amen Rod. Thanks for sharing.
A lovely devotional Rod. Thank you!
The Lord God Jehovah bless you and those you love, this day and always!
Read Matthew’s last words of his Gospel, and Believe!
Thank you, Rod, for sharing your life changing concerns. I will keep you and your concerns before the Lord. Blessings.
Very real and understandable been there, done that.. “Trust and obey for there’s no other way …”
Thanks Roderick.
Thanks Rod, blessings upon your new house. l know it will be just where God wants you to be.
Blessings.
Dear Roderick Marshall,
Thank you for a very fine, spiritual, and interesting devotional.
Keep writing.
Rod I love the line — jumping out of my life’s plane again — now that you are such an experienced skydiver, no doubt you are now flying from higher heights of faith! Open-mouthed. All the best to you and yours.
Good Morning, Rod,
Certainly there is a great deal happening in your and Caroline’s lives right now. We are praying for good things for your family. And, I learned a new phrase today. Somehow in my 78 years I have missed “bete noir.”
Your devotional was, as usual, well written and effective.
Thank you Rod for today’s devotional. It brought me hope and I felt like God is talking to me. I have my condo on the market for sale for over a year now. I have many open house and showings but still no offer. I woke up this morning with tears in my eyes wondering when God will answer my prayers about my finances. Congratulations on the sale of your house. Blessings.
Dear brother you are on the right track or should I say plane. I would love to live in your area. I hear it is absolutely amazing. God bless you and please keep me posted. I would love to hear from you again. If this is any consolation, I have moved in average every 4 years for the last forty.
God bless you Rod
(Ottawa Canada)
It’s hard to believe how faithful God is. I have been too busy and somewhat stressed lately, but decided to read the article today (after skipping it for awhile). How can one person’s trouble bring about such comfort to another person’s completely unrelated troubles? Well, it’s His faithful Presence among us isn’t it! May the Lord deeply bless you Rod, as you rest in Him through your ‘free fall’, and may the outcome be beautifully and wonderfully tailored to all your expectations and needs!
Hello Rod, Thanks for your submission to the devotional site. I can appreciate how you must feel making a big change.
I can refer you to William Cowper’s Hymn, “God Moves In a mysterious way, His wonders to perform etc.” You probably know it. One of the verses is one of my favourites:
“Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy and shall break with blessings on your head.”
God has a plan for you and your family Rod. I know you know that.
The challenge is in facing the unknown. I’ve been in a similar position many times but the outcome was always better than I could have imagined.
Praying His blessings upon all that is happening in your life. It can be very hard – especially when we love to be in control – but hang in there. The best is yet to come.
(Ontario)
Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your faith walk with all of us. The walk of faith isn’t for wimps. It isn’t easy. It isn’t a crutch. It is a challenging journey and constant testing of our unwavering faith in the unseen God and His love for us. Your testimony of faith helps to encourage me and build me up as I experience similar testing along patches of my own faith journey. I wish you continued strength as you trust the Lord with all the details of your life. He is faithful and desires to richly bless you. Jude 1:2 (AMP) says it best. God Bless.
This was just so incredible – a word directly for me today.
I’m not sure whether I make a loud exclamation of “Amen!” in the style of some worshippers, or whether I whistle in the style of some of the more moderns. In any event, a heartfelt thank you for sharing it.
I will share what you have written with my friends. I believe it will have relevance for many. Of course I would include attribution.
All blessings.
Dear Rod – thank you for your devotional. I can certainly relate and I thank you for the passage from Exodus. I will use this one! I had a similar experience recently. For some time, I have been searching for a property to use in the winter. I was able, recently, to leave that in God’s hands and say, “if God wants me to have this house… I will.” I guess he wanted me to have that house, because the deal went through! Now, however, I am wanting to move closer to family and I have my house for rent. No one is answering my ad, and I had to tell myself, to leave it with God! God Bless you and may all go well with your house transaction.
(PEI)
Hi,
Seems so simple to trust when He shows us HE never fails but our problem is we want to have His answer our way. Right? And right away, as well.
Hi Roderick,
Hang on tight to Jeremiah 29:11. Say it over and over again to yourself. Also Isaiah 41:10 is a helpful verse to keep in mind.
You will find the “right” place for you, where God wants you to be.
Thank you for your devotions; I always enjoy them.
(Canada)
Hi Rod,
We went through this a couple of years ago. The agony of trying to decide to sell, then where to buy and then the actual move.
One of our neighbours, a Minister took a call in an other place, and he said, he is not worried about selling his house, “The Lord has already chosen the one who will buy it” I’m sure you will be guided in your moves.
Blessings.
Dear Roderick Marshall,
I pray with you that in this transition you will be mightily blessed by our ever strong and mighty Lord.
May he spur you and yours ever onward in your service for him who loves you immensely.
Thank you for the devotional.