Day2

When I sat down to Quiet My Heart in Luke chapter 12:22-34, I got more than I expected.

What spoke loudest to me was the providence of God. It’s not a word I use often, but after my Monday morning Bible study it was stuck in my head.

I got my pencil crayons out and started to highlight:

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. – Luke 12:32

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. – Luke 12:27

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. – Luke 12:29-30

And I was in awe of His providence.

Dictionary.com defines providence this way, “the foreseeing care and guidance of God.”

Such a beautiful thought, but a question remained. If God cares for us, provides for us, and loves us, why are so many suffering? Why are so many lacking those things we take for granted? Health, food, a home, happiness…

I have a brother in law who’s battling cancer right now. I’ve known him since I was eight years old, so in every sense of the word, he’s my brother. But he’s lying in the hospital fighting for his life while I’m sitting in my house enjoying life. Where’s the providence in all of this?

And then day 2 came, and I dug deeper into the Word.

God’s Word shines light on all of my questions… “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:31-39

This journey we’re on isn’t about what we’ll get, or what we won’t get–what will fall into place, and what won’t. It’s not about life or death, famine or war. It’s not about the trials we face or the triumphs we experience. It’s about experiencing a relationship with God regardless of what comes our way. It’s about trusting in something bigger than us.

His compassionate grace gives us hope. His providence offers rest to the weary soul. His power and might sustain us when we can’t stand on our own.

When our treasure is stored up in heaven, nothing can take it away. 

As long as we’re in this world, we’ll have trouble, but that trouble could never separate us from our God.  We’ll see sickness and pain, poverty and loss, hunger, sadness and sorrow… and some of it might hit close to home, but hope remains for those who believe. This world is a passage to much greater things. A life we couldn’t even begin to imagine.

When I truly believe that regardless of what comes my way He’s got my best interest at heart, I can rest from the cares of this world. When I accept the fact that He cares deeply for me, I can put my worries aside and see past the trials I face.

Are you studying along with us? Share your notes in our Bible journaling group, or follow me on Facebook and share your thoughts there.

Come back on Friday and we’ll share more thoughts from this study as we quiet our hearts for the holidays.

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife

P.S. It’s not to late to join our study. We just started this week (Nov. 23rd), and we’d love to have you study with us! All of the information for the study is found here: Quieting Your Heart for the Holidays.

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