Thursday, May 27, 2010

Everything is Purposeful.........

What exactly does that mean?



If you would have asked me 6 months ago I would have given you some random answer concocted from my limited knowledge which held no meaning or significance…..and I wouldn’t have thought another thing about it. However, in February this phrase took on eternal significance for me and will forever be etched, branded and sewn into the fabric of my spirit and soul.



Have you ever had an event occur that to the natural mind is really no more than a normal occurrence, but spiritually shakes you down to your core? That is what happened to me that February evening….it knocked me off my bearings, turned my world upside down, and made me question everything I knew to be the specific word of God to me.



I remember sitting in my car, my mind reeling, my hands shaking, completely dumbfounded over what had just happened, and not having a clue what the correct course of action was to be in response, and I started talking to God.



“Lord, what just happened?”



“I don’t understand.”



“What am I supposed to do with this?”



And finally ending with…



“You could have stopped this!”



This was the question that prompted His response, and the following conversation pursued:



“I could have.”



“But you didn’t.”



“No.”



Job and Paul came to mind, and I remembered that God allowed things into their lives for a reason….a purpose.



“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 NIV



From this revelation came my defining moment, my paradigm shift, the understanding of eternal perspective in natural things..…



“You didn’t.….Ok, then God, I cannot begin understand or grasp how this could even possibly serve any purpose at all…..but that’s ok, I don’t have to, because You do. I’m handing this situation to You and trusting You to work it together for good.”



From that moment on I have looked for purpose in every single occurrence in my life – the big and the small, the seemingly insignificant and those things which are so big I’m left speechless.



EVERYTHING IS PURPOSEFUL!!



Everything. Everything. Everything. EVERYTHING!



The good and the bad

The pretty and the ugly

The laughter and the tears

The joy and the pain



The ashes…

The brokenness….

The wilderness....

The narrow road…

The fire….



This is what is so amazing about our God. He is all knowing. He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. He knows the beginning from the end, and He knows exactly what things need to happen in my life to mold me, make me and polish me into the woman He created to be. He knows the perfect way to turn my mess into my miracle, my confusion into clarity, my trouble into triumph, my ashes into beauty!



Understanding that everything is purposeful is the very thing that brought me to a final, complete submission to the Lord’s hand in my life. This is were I surrendered everything, where I was no longer afraid of being vulnerable and exposed, where I allowed Him access to those deep, deep places in my heart – to heal, to restore, to make new.



Understanding this is where I finally learned the fullness of His heart, finally got that He is for me, finally accepted His all-consuming love, and finally trusted Him to navigate my life. This is where I surrendered control and moved into the passenger seat of my life. And WOW, what a ride it’s been since then!



I challenge you to change your question when things happen in your life. Stop asking “Why?” and begin asking “What? What are you trying to teach me, sift out of me, reveal to me out of this experience, Lord.” Not one thing is ever wasted. Nothing is in vain. He is a purposeful God living in a purposed and destined you!



P.S. I have seen so many good things, eternal things, amazing things happen from the event that occurred in February. These things could have never been done had that not occurred. It was purposeful and will continue to be!



I pray that you are surrounded and covered by the revelation of the fullness, the greatness, the sovereignty and the amazing love of our beautiful Lord. In Jesus precious name, Amen.



“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8 NLT



“You've kept track of my every toss and turn, through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.” Psalm 56:8 The Message


~ Manthie

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Much needed, much appreciated Manthie.
-mary

Unknown said...

much needed & much appreciated, Manthie.
-mary