I am a pastor, but it still requires effort for me to have faith in God day in and day out. I didn't grow up in church and am a natural skeptic of faith and religion altogether. If my experiences with God had not been so vivid and clear, I am not sure I would even be a believer to this day.
Anyways, I confessed all of that to say that every now and then I experience a circumstance that is so strange that I am just completely convinced that it's God at work. The thing is, though, that hindsight is 20/20 because I had no idea what the Lord was doing with this circumstance two months ago.
Let me give you a thumbnail sketch. A person in my life that I trusted began to really flake out in a major way about a month or so ago. I was disappointed and frustrated and didn't understand why this was happening. Today, I learned that it is a very good thing to not be connected to this person.
Sorry for the vagueness, but I'm not trying to be juicy. I'm trying to make a point.
A month ago I was stumped and a bit agitated at why God was allowing a relationship to fall apart. Today I realize that God was saving me from something that would have very likely been problematic for me and for our church down the road.
Here's the moral of the story children: If you don't understand why something strange is happening in your life…just wait. God could be saving you from dangers seen and unseen.
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Shaun,
Am I that “somebody”?
Yes Jarrett. You are that somebody you no good dirty dog of a man. How dare you comment on my blog again.
Not!
:)
Shaun
Thanks for your words … much needed reminder regarding something that has been boggling my mind recently.
Another thought I have is this … sometimes God can seem cryptic. You know He is at work in something or has spoken to your heart but you are missing the final piece of the puzzle. He isn’t doing it to frustrate us, but to draw us closer to Him so we seek Him sincerely on our knees. And remember, Jesus spoke in parables.
“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Luke 8:8
sounds familiar.. reminds me of my first college girlfriend who i thought i would marry. i think she’s turned out OK but it would NEVER have worked between us. looking back i’m thankful we didn’t take that step, and i realize how God’s perfect plan was working when i didn’t even realize it.
now i’m with the perfect woman and we have a beautiful relationship and a beautiful family.
Yep, so true. It’s almost like we should be happy when the crazy, um, stuff, starts happening because it’s a sign that God is moving. Or at least that’s how he works in my life. When people start acting a fool (and I mean that in the best possible way), God’s up to something. :)
I recently heard a Pastor on the radio say that God sometimes put people in your life for them to walk out of your life. This hit me like a rock! And though sometimes it hurts, I know that God does not make mistakes.
This is very true. It applies to many things in life whether it be jobs, people, relationships, church affiliations…anything.
Good word!
Shaun,
Thank you so much for sharing this. I really needed to read this. God is so thorough in everything He does. When He’s trying to show you a thing, He really goes all out. Thanks my brother.
My love to your family.
Looking back over my life I can see several times when God was protecting me from people, from their drama and dysfuction.
To be honest, there are some I sort of wish he HAD protected me from. But I figure that must be the whole “iron sharpening iron” thing.
Thank you so much for sharing! I realize that God knows what He is doing and that I just need to trust him.. The last time something like that happened to me, (and it has happened A LOT), I just began THANKING HIM for letting me get through it, and for the lesson that I learned from the situation. I spent very little time being sad because I knew that there was a reason, that through the experience, I was being refined…
Good Post Shaun, I went through this around this time last year. I was extremely excited about a new opportunity for ministry and it fizzled but not before it caused me great pain and discouragement. Looking back I see how God was protecting me from the very people I wanted to serve and serve with.
This is crazy! I just kind of stumbled on your blog and this exact thing happened to me pretty much as this exact time… And I have also realized it was God pulling me out of something that could have been really detramental down the road. Giving me a chance at a clean slate in the new year… Crazy!!
I’m sorry but I don’t understand, are we not supposed to be looking out for those who are headed in the wrong direction. I could give up on someone who may bring a house of card down upon me but I feel prayer and everyday conversations are the better choice.