Chosen Grace

The other day, I had to call my mom about an issue that I was having. The issue had been lingering for a few weeks and although I had tried everything it seemed as if I couldn’t get my problem solved.

So, knowing that I needed extra help, I called my mother.

After I had fussed and complained, my mother began to talk to me and give me her advice. She then suggested a solution that, if I’m being honest, made me roll my eyes.

“Mama,” I said. “I already checked that.”

“Lay,” My mama said, calling me by my nickname, “I know but I just have this feeling that if you look there- you’ll find your answer.”

Rolling my eyes again, I told my mom that I would follow through with her suggestion. We hung up the phone and I was annoyed as I began to type into my web browser. It wasn’t upset at my mom, no, I was upset at the fact that her instructions simply did not make sense.

Yet things changed as I began to follow my mom’s instructions. After a few clicks of my touchpad, a smile graced my face. As my mom predicted- the answer was right were she had suggested.

I called her back and she answered on the second ring.

“Mama, I’m gonna let you have this one. You were right.” I laughed.

My mom laughed too. “See, I told you so.” I laughed again and after telling each other that we loved each other, we hung up the phone.

As I pondered on that moment throughout the day, the Lord began to minister to me. He said, “In the same way you’re mom was right- so am I. Remember, Father always knows best.”

And so, that is what I want to share with you all today. Let’s get into Scripture:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

-Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV

I have heard this verse all of my life. Especially growing up in church, it seemed as if everyone I knew quoted Proverbs 3:5-6. But, although I’ve heard it over and over – recently it has meant something different. That’s because God’s word is active- meaning that it has the ability to shift and change as we grow (Hebrews 4:12). And the Scripture above is no different.

You see, as I have grown closer to Christ, there have been times where I have said with my mouth that I have trusted God, but my heart has been on a completely different wavelength.

I mean, I would be praying and praying, saying that I have full confidence in God. But as soon as I got done praying, I would immediately begin to worry. And if I was not worrying, I was busy coming up with my own solutions.

Now in our world today, making your own decisions is the correct way to go. Culture tells us to follow our heart and act quickly because we only live once. Culture tells us that you have to do it, or else you’ll have FOMO (aka: fear of missing out).

And while the world and its culture is right that we only have one life to live- they are wrong that we should follow our heart.

You see, in a previous blog post entitled Check. Your. Heart., I discussed how the heart is the thing that keeps us beating, yet it can be deceitful. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us this, as it notes that the heart and all it’s emotions can lead us astray. If we were to follow it completely all the time- we’d either run in circles or end up stir crazy.

For the Christian, the remedy to following our heart is found in the verse above. As God’s children we are instructed to trust in God with our heart. You see, it’s not a bad thing that our heart longs to trust in something. But- in order for us to function at our highest capacity in Christ- we must train our hearts to trust in God.

I’ll admit, this is NOT easy for me. Just as how I described my phone call with my mom, this is me with God a lot in our relationship. A lot of the time I’ll come to God again and again, fussing about something that is not going my way, and He’ll speak. Maybe in a song or from a friend, but I’ll hear Him.

Yet, instead of clinging to Him- I’ll come up with my own solutions and try my best to figure it out on my own. And every single time I do that- I end up falling…flat on my face.

Maybe you guys fall on your face too. Maybe, like me, you don’t wanna do what God is calling you to because it just does not make sense. OR, you feel that God’s call and instruction is just too much. And lastly, you could be feeling that God’s way just doesn’t align with your plan.

Whatever it is- I just want to affirm that what you’re feeling is totally normal. I think God knows that sometimes we don’t get what He’s telling us. And because He’s patient, God will lead us each in a unique way.

And as God leads us patiently, showering us with His love, we slowly submit to Him. This submittance is us following Proverbs 3:5-6. That shows God that we trust Him. By trusting Him, God then begins to straighten out our walkway, leading us in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:3).

And before you know it, you’ll see why following God was the best way to go. You’ll see that God’s instruction actually was the right thing to listen to and follow. You will see God’s promises fulfilled and His light shining down on you.

Like me, you’ll laugh and smile- rejoicing and giving our Abba-Father praise. Not because you knew it all along. But because Father knows best. And what Good-Good Father wouldn’t lead His children to a good place? Certainly not ours.

I love you all!

With a new appreciation Father Knowing Best,

Malaysia 🙂