“It’s because I love you I’m not giving you any more,” I told my beloved nearly 16 year old ministry doggy Abigail. She was having her breakfast when I pulled it away from her to save for later. She was having a little procedure at the doggy doctor’s in just a few hours. I needed to do what was best for her.
No sooner did I speak those words to her in my little mommy-to-doggy voice than I saw the significance they bore and knew I had a message to write. This one.
Abigail wasn’t thrilled with my taking her food away. She didn’t realize it was best for her. She simply wanted what she had in front of her. She didn’t understand or appreciate my reasoning. My purpose. That it truly was for her best. Does this sound familiar?
How often are we not too thrilled – to say the least – when God takes something away from us, makes clear we need to let something or someone go, turns us in a different direction, shows us we need to repent and return to Him, helps us see we are on the wrong pathway, leads us to His will instead of our own, makes clear His will for us is not what our flesh would choose, brings correction we wish we didn’t need, etc.? Isn’t it true that sometimes you and I doubt God’s will? And even doubt His love behind it? Isn’t it true sometimes we can’t fathom God really loves us when His will for us isn’t what we desire?
Just as I did what was best for Abigail that day, God’s will is always best. Best in that He calls us to live to love and glorify Him. So His will is best for Him. And best because He loves His children beyond imagination. And HIs will is best for us also.
Let’s not doubt His will, friend. Nor let us doubt His love.
Just as the psalmist a number of times in the psalms speaks of PUTTING His trust in the Lord, which implies a conscious decision to do so, let us PUT our trust in the Lord and believe His will is best and that it is borne of HIs love.
“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16
“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” Psalms 36:7