Living in a state of mandated quarantine has allowed me more time for jogging. Today I was jogging uphill (that is only important because, ouch!) on a narrow sidewalk. I could see a man jogging in my direction, and I was making a plan to move off the sidewalk, provided there were no cars coming. As I stepped off into the road, the man gave me a look that looked less than kind. He kept eye contact until I was completely past him.
I was not being mean or cruel. I was simply putting the mandatory 6 feet of distance between him and I. My heart in moving away was protection, not rejection.
Sometimes we feel that way with God. He allows or disallows things in our lives that feel like rejection when in reality, He sees the bigger picture and is truly offering protection.
…When we do not get that promotion, when we don’t get the job, when that close friend now seems distant, when we don’t get invited to that social gathering, when that seemingly perfect guy is not interested, when someone else gets credit.
God is not moved by our emotions. He knows the end from the beginning, and He is our protector.
He will protect us from unhealthy friendships that will corrupt our hearts, wealth or notoriety that our character cannot handle, settling on a position when a better one is right around the corner, authority and power that we do not have discipline to wield, and decisions in the present that will harm our future.
The enemy will hand you the facts.
“You did not get the promotion.”
“You did not get the position.”
“Those girls do not want to be your friend.”
“You were not invited to that event.”
“He is not that into you.”
“You should have gotten the credit.”
The enemy will NEVER present the TRUTH! The truth is God is GOOD!
There is protection in His “No”, and in His “Not yet”.
Just like I was trying to protect the man on the sidewalk because I knew more than him, God knows more than we ever could and is working all things for our good.
So celebrate the goodness of God! He shows his kindness to everyone who is his. Go ahead—shout for joy, all you upright ones who want to please him!