For God is not a God of disorder but of peace–
as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
I Corinthians 14:33
NIV
For years I have heard this scripture used to keep “order” in church meetings, and this is appropriate, though sometimes it is used to maintain the status quo and quench the Holy Spirit. But that’s not where I’m going today.
Have you ever played the game Spider Solitaire? I won’t exactly say I’m addicted to it, but when I’ve played a while, I close my eyes and see cards! I’ve really thought about why I like this game so much. It is a kind of puzzle game and I love it when I solve the puzzle and win. But I think my favorite thing is that I can start it over and over and try again the many, many times I don’t win.
Each time I restart the game, I do some little thing differently. I make my moves in a slightly different order. And sometimes those little changes give me a win.
Don’t you wish you could do that with life?
This morning I read this in Bill Johnson’s book The Way of Life, “It’s important for us to realize that God often values our journey more than the outcome.” When we pray, are we not seeking some kind of outcome? We need an answer here; we want God to intervene there. We are interested in getting our situation fixed and our prayer answered now!
But what if God is working things out a better way. What if we have things to learn along the way? What if certain things must happen first?
I believe that not only is God not a God of disorder, but He is a God of Order. He knows what has to happen when. We can’t just press a button and start our lives over until it “works out.”
I am very thankful that in Jesus, I get second and third (etc.) chances. He is in the forgiving and redeeming business. But I only have one life. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End… and everything in the middle.
Lord, I will trust you to order my life and to order my steps
… and to order Your answers to my prayers.
And please remind me of this when I
get impatient.
You are smarter and wiser than I am,
and always will be.
Amen.