During February last year, a series of tornadoes skirted our neighborhood bringing high winds and taking down trees in our neighbor’s yard. Our home is adjacent to their vacation house so the three trees that fell into the wooded area of their property, taking out part of the fence, stayed down for the better part of a year before someone came in to cut and haul away the usable firewood. One stump remains uprooted next to their back deck.
While we were building our house, the Great Danes chased each other around that tree. It was massive, towering above us to forty or fifty feet and sprawling its limbs over a quarter of the yard. Trees of that size don’t relocate well but as God’s people, we are to live our lives rooted in Him and ready to move at His Word. We are to be like Ruth to Naomi, saying, “where you go I’ll go and where you stay I’ll stay.” (Ruth 1:16) This is how Israel followed the manifest presence of the Lord in the wilderness (Exodus 40:36-38) and it is how we are to respond to His indwelling Spirit as well. (Galatians 5:25)
I am what my grandmother would call a homebody. I’ve traveled but not widely and I have lived in the same state all of my life. I marvel at the beauty of faraway places but I am content in my little corner of the world. There are many ways to obey the command of Christ to go into all the world and preach the gospel. (Mark 16:15)
College took me from home for the first time to the upper part of the state. As a newlywed, my husband moved me to the low country and at the end of his schooling, the Lord brought us back to the upstate. Our plan was to return to our family home to the midlands but in His own timing, God made it plain that we were already home, as much as we will be this side of heaven.
“The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we’re going?”
Proverbs 20:24 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.20.24.MSG
“It is the Lord who directs your life, for each step you take is ordained by God to bring you closer to your destiny.
So much of your life, then, remains a mystery!”
Proverbs 20:24 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/pro.20.24.TPT
“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”
Proverbs 20:24 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.20.24.NLT
How many times have I scratched my head in wonder or in consternation, unable to make sense of my circumstances while still being certain that God was directing my steps? It’s one of the great benefits of faith, when knowing God is good combats any doubt or fear in this life. The emotions are all present and sometimes all over the place, but underneath, as the Bible says, are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27)
“Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
He is the Lord our God.
His justice is seen throughout the land.
He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations.”
Psalms 105:4, 7-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.105.4-8.NLT
In keeping His covenant with Abraham, “He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply.
Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers.”
Psalms 105:16-22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.105.16-22.NLT
God gave the very dreams to Joseph that He would one day fulfill, not so Joseph could enjoy wealth and power in Egypt, but so God could preserve Israel through Joseph’s obedience. Joseph’s slavery and unjust treatment in the interim surely tested his character but his faith was not swayed.
“Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.”
Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.””
Genesis 41:51-52 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gen.41.51-52.NLT
He named his sons according to what he perceived as God’s blessings, to forget and to be fruitful, but God remembered His people through Joseph.
“All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions.
Praise the Lord!”
Psalms 105:45 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.105.45.NLT
Our words, thoughts, and actions matter very much to God. He knows our words before we speak and He knows our thoughts. Even in our dismay, we can honor our Creator by remembering that His thoughts and ways are so much higher, that every moment is pregnant with purpose. (Isaiah 55:8-11)
“No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.
And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.”
1 Corinthians 2:11-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.2.11-12.NLT
Just for starters, God has given us His Son, and if that had not been enough, He has given us a kingdom, an eternal home, and His indwelling presence. We have His Word and His Spirit, life, breath, and purpose.
“Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God.
He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.”
Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT
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