God's Way is Always Best

Chuckle: "Parents are people who bear children, bore teenagers, and board newlyweds."

Quote: "I find the doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans." --George MacDonald

"Whether we like it or not, we will obey the Lord our God to whom we send you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us" (Jeremiah 42:6 NLT).

We would be much better off if only we could always trust God to know what is best for us and obey His commands and instructions. But we often have a hard time with this concept. Somehow, we think we know what is best for us and just can't accept the fact that we really don't. We know, intellectually, that God always has our best interests at heart, but knowing and accepting are two different things. When pride raises its ugly head, self and selfish desires take center stage in our lives.

Jesus set the ultimate example for us when, prior to His crucifixion, He prayed, "Father, . . . not my will but yours be done" (Luke 22:42 NIV). Although the prospect of death on the cross was horrible, He recognized the need for His Father's wisdom and will to prevail. As the apostle Paul wrote so eloquently, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28 NIV). We must be careful not to pray and ask God for His guidance when, in fact, we have no intention of obeying unless His instructions agree with what we have already decided.

We are wise when we recognize that God's way is best even when it doesn't make sense to us. sometimes God's instructions surprise us because they are so different from what we expect. We need to remember God's words when He said, "My thoughts are completely different from yours, . . . And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine" (Isaiah 55:8 NLT). We are foolish and waste our time when we try to shape God's will into our selfish mold. Instead of trying to conform our desires to God. We should shape ourselves to fit His plans for us.

Nate Saint, one of five missionaries killed by the Auca Indians, once said that his life did not change until he came to grips with the idea that "obedience is not a momentary option . . . it is a diecast decision made beforehand."

Many believers can attest to the truth that when we commit ourselves to faithful obedience to God, the outcome is much more satisfying than we could have imagined. Many others can attest to the folly of disobedience -- choosing our way instead of God's way. God knows what is best for us and His Word is a love letter to you and me expressing His desire to always give us what is best. We can be certain that God always has the perfect reason for His commands.

Love, Jerry & Dotse