We had a great morning with our church family. I’m so thankful for The River – it’s been an oasis and safe place for our family over the last year.
During worship, we surrendered the things we’ve been holding on to a little too tightly. We made space for God, clearing out the clutter, asking Him to fill us to brim with His Holy Spirit.
For me, I (once again) surrendered my way, how I think things should be or turn out. As we sang “Your way is better” from Make Room, I kept singing “You know better.” We have a Father who knows and understands. God knows best, in a loving and merciful way.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.’” – Isaiah 55:6-12 (NASB)
His thoughts and ways are not equal to mine. His thoughts are higher; His ways are higher. And His words won’t return to Him void.
God knows what He’s doing. And He’s trustworthy.
So I give up trying to understand every. single. thing. this side of Heaven. Some things are never going to make sense to my finite mind and limiting understanding. But I can trust God, His will, His way. He never fails, and He’s not going to start now. He’s faithful to stand with us under whatever we’re facing. He knows it all. And I can walk by faith, with Him.
“… for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” – 1 John 3:20 (NASB)
“Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.” – Psalm 139:4 (NASB)
Much of my recent journaling has included the phrase “How long, Lord?” As I’ve written many times before, God can handle our transparency and questions. He welcomes all of us, every part. He invites our brokenness and vulnerability.
Today, one of the leaders said, “Live your life in transparency. He already knows.”
God is a know-it-all, in the best sense. He knows all things, the whole picture. And that makes the load I carry lighter. I don’t have to know it all; I can trust that He does.
As we were praying, God put “slow down, take time” on my heart. Knowing it was a song lyric, I quickly went through until I got to the chorus and discovered it was Take Courage. “The thoughts in His mind, Always higher than mine, He’ll reveal all to come.” And even if He doesn’t, He’s still worthy. He’s still on the throne. He’s still God.
He knows better.
❤️
Songs on repeat:
- Take Courage by Kristene DiMarco
- We Make Space by Melissa Helser
- Honest Offering / I Surrender All by CAIN
- You Hold It All Together by Maverick City Music x UPPERROOM
Continued reading:
My Race to Run 