Here's Where the Rubber Meets the Road...

We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. 

-C.S. Lewis

I saw this quote yesterday at Life in Grace.  It pretty much sums up how I'm feeling after hearing that Wes will soon no longer have a job. 

There is very little we know besides that. All that is certain is that at some point in the very near future, we will have no income.

I have spent the last 24 hours reminding myself of God's goodness and sovereignty in this. 

And Lewis' sentiment is EXACTLY what I've been wondering. How painful is this going to be?

Because, honestly, though I am certainly tempted to doubt, I truly believe that God will absolutely do the best for us. But, I'm no stranger to the pain that is often involved in His best! 

So we are hunkering down here, seeing an opportunity to walk by faith. (Which is SO MUCH HARDER than walking by sight!!)

I know it's no coincidence that I have just begun memorizing the book of James. 

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

James 1:2-4

Or, perhaps you can see the irony in our Bible lesson this week: God Controls All of the Bad Things.

I taught that lesson to my children as I waited to hear the news we knew was being announced Wednesday! I knew God was preparing me. I knew the news would go into the "bad things" category.

But, here is what else I knew. God is not concerned with my comfort. He's after my heart. He wants me to love Him, worship Him, and live fully for Him. All things are from Him, through Him, and to Him for HIS GLORY and not mine.

So, my God will do the best for me. Only, His best will be aimed at my affections... not at my comfort.

I call this the "rubber meets the road" kind of faith. We talk about it; we study it; we teach it. Now, we get to live it.