God's Not Finished With You yet, He Is in Control and He Is Good

Have you ever had one of those going through the motions? A day when you feel like one more mishap on top of an already full plate will nudge you into the abyss. That may not have been your week, but we all have days like this.

When experiencing this kind of day, it's next to impossible to find the humor at the moment. It's also not likely that you will breathe and count to ten. You will probably want to fall right where you are, cry your bloody head off until you can't even breathe, and then fall asleep or do some mindless, no brain activity.

I don't want to be morbid by telling you this is inevitable, but you will have a moment with a horrible breaking point in your life. I am also sorry to be the bearer of bad news; it will come when you least expect it. It will even come when there is absolutely no time or place for you to fall apart.

I want to share three points below that may help in these moments:

1. God gives us only we can handle. He will provide us with what we need and will provide whatever or whoever may be the touchpoint we require. It may be helpful to seek those with a faithful and strongly committed relationship with the Lord. God will send them your way, lean on them, learn from them, and they will learn from your story. No matter when this moment arrives, it will still be a shocker, as we are not in control, and it's not our timing. I want to assure you that although the reason may not be in that complete "I GIVE UP" moment, it will follow in a short time if we can take part in active listening.

2. Active listening is an essential skill. Learning how to become a better listener can increase your productivity and improve our relationships. To actively listen is to restate or paraphrase what the speaker says; both parties have understood, confirming the information given accurately. The most important relationship is with God, as we actively seek and listen for His Spirit through His Word and those He sends to our path. If we work on this skill of working on our relationship with Him, then everything else falls into place.

3. Knowledge is everything, but even given the tools with the experience, we do not always use said weapons in a pinch, or sometimes we misuse tools and cause more damage. Be sure NOT to use knowledge as a mallet on others; someone will always get hurt. Humble yourself to the servant's heart, and the Master will share the experience with and through you.

First, let me set a picture. You’re having a rough week, and maybe your plate has so much on it you know in your mind there is no room left, not even for salt. Then someone takes the saltshaker, ready to sprinkle the plate to make it taste a bit better. This plate is already the most undesirable; let’s say it’s a full plate of liver and onions; this, to me, would be an exceedingly unpalatable plate.

I can’t see myself eating liver and onions even if I was on a deserted island. I’m afraid I sound spoiled, but the truth is the thought of liver makes me cringe. To make it a little more disgusting, let’s add that the liver has spoiled and has an unusually foul odor. You are going along trying to stomach the liver as it was the only option, but then it happens, the saltshaker top is loose and pours out all over the already distasteful plate (this is hypothetical, of course, insert your “I give up” moment, here.)

Here it is, the “OH MY WORD, I GIVE UP” moment. Now here is the fun part. You can’t give up. You’re strong; you have faith; people rely on you. You are stronger than this moment, and this too shall pass, but remember, it’s the “I GIVE UP!” moment. So you lose it somehow, someway, and you don’t even care, because you gave up, right?

Yes, knowledge is everything, but we don't always use the tools we have in a pinch. I am a Christian; I know to go to God immediately. I know His word is accessible, and if I use that word, I am wrapped in His arms of comfort so quickly. Again, I am human, and not always do I use what is readily there.

Sometimes I need a nudge to remind me that when I am in my pit, there is no greater joy than knowing God will always be there. Sometimes, even when we are not listening, He is still actively present as the Holy Spirit. Every once in a while, Jesus flows out of the radio and sits YOU on HIS lap. He tickles your spirit and makes you see Him so clearly.

James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

When God reminds you to smile, He will take the tears away.

When you read His Word, you fill with the spirit that took those tears to the cross.

When you actively listen, He will come to you in the give up moments.

When you have the tools, try not to forget to use them.

No worries if we forget. He reminds us to close our eyes and listen.

Knowing God's word and studying it is essential; you can call upon it for every experience in your life. We also see in reviewing that word that the fallen angel lives among us, and the temptation of our faith will be forceful while in the valleys.

We also know by reading His word that there is no higher power than that of God our Father in heaven. He will always make us see the lifeline He is throwing into that pit to pull us back up again.

Try hard not to be the perfect Christian, for there is no such thing. There is only a perfect Lord and Savior. Jesus suffered, He cried out, and God answered He is God.

We are human, not God; try to find the laughter in tears. Try to share the smiles with one who is there and remember how awesome it will be when we all get together in heaven with Him.

Suddenly you get away from reality, sitting in your car, and you think to keep going. If you keep going, it will go away. Nope, so at last, you wait. You let your head drop, sob, and pray out loud, very animated, I might add, while sitting in a parking spot. You have already set the car ignition, and the motor is purring because, praise God, at least, the car has not broken down with everything else, and for that, you are very grateful. So you wait, you have just driven yourself for the first time in weeks as your distasteful plate provided some already severe limits and boundaries, and while fussing, you were complying with those limits.

This moment has followed weeks of slamming, moments of one thing after another. You are trying to be an example for those around you, knowing that God has grand plans for all this icky stuff on your whole plate, yet this is your very human moment. You want to give up, head down, tears flowing generously in the quiet.

Now the radio has come on simultaneously with your purring vehicle, playing in the background, but you’re unaware and not paying attention. You are not actively listening. Then you slowly succumb to the quiet and relaxation, and at that moment of helplessness, the song comes on the radio “Brandon Heath ~ Wait And See ~ He’s Not Finished With You Yet.”

WAIT FOR IT, WAIT FOR IT, first a smile, then a full-blown hysterical laugh with arms moving and pointing up to heaven as if to say, “alright already I hear you, GOD,” You feel a particular JOY that only God could make a moment like this happen. The best part about your JOY is you’re finally able to lift your head.

A red Volvo is directly in front of you, and then you see the woman staring at you as if to say, “ARE YOU A CRAZY.” You realize she has witnessed your entire moment, and then you laugh more complexly as she stares. So you calm down your laughter and slightly smile and wave as you mesmerize her. WAIT FOR IT, yep; she rolls her eyes and drives away. All at once, you know it’s okay; you’re all right again because God came to you through the radio, and you were smiling and not rolling your eyes.