Do you ever read the bible, and you're like seriously? that happened for 3 years? What did he do on his off time? What did he do between all the stuff God was doing in his life? How did he live with just that one command for 3 whole years?! Daniel was brought under the king's rule. Trained for 3 years and then entered into the king's service. He interpreted dreams and peaced out of a huge fire without a scorch, scratch or singe... All through God's power of course... and he's not shy about giving God the praise for what He has done in Daniel's life.
Or what about that verse where it says, "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52) What? How am I supposed to navigate adolescence and early adulthood when you only gave me that one sentence of how Jesus did it?! I used to get so pissed about that verse. God probably laughs at me and says- its not that hard, I only gave you a one command, just grow.
3 years is a long time. 3 years ago I was 19.5 years old, a Sophomore in college, learned how to be an RA, entered into my first relationship, unsure what God wanted with my life after school (still growing in that), and a COMPLETELY different person. Its weird to think about how long that is and how scripture will sum up 3 years of growth for someone in a few sentences. But they were moldable years. For sure! Like I said, I'm a completely different person.
Maybe God leaves years a little blank in scripture because they don't look the same to everyone. Maybe He keeps them mysterious because they are supposed to be lived in daily surrender to whatever He wants to speak into them. Maybe He likes keeping us in the "need to know" level of communication. Maybe He just wants us to keep in mind that He is sovereign and knows best. Maybe life is a lesson of TRUST. I know it has been for me.
So I guess I choose to look at those types of passages with excitement. God has a plan. He's romantic and wants to keep it spontaneous. He wants to hold his hands over my eyes for a few years and then bring me to the edge of something and then whisper "ok, you can open them now" and then blow my mind with all the stuff he's been planning for years. The stuff he's been doing in the background along the journey. The cool stuff that "I just want to know now!" The stuff that you write books about. The "big moment" type stuff. So I choose to trust him. Trust for the 3 years or for the 27, whatever it takes.
He's got it. I'm thankful.
Good thoughts. I am applauding right now.
ReplyDeleteWe are in those blindfold years, I guess. But you are right, He will bring us to the things worth writing books about. I have been learning about faith lately: believing and hoping in the evidence of things unseen. Right now we are cultivating that hope, even though we have no idea where it will take us. But we do know it will take us somewhere someday. And it will be glorious.
Keep growing in wisdom and stature, my dear.
Nuuuuubs. So good. I love the picture you painted about God keeping things a surprise for us until he says, "you can open them", so so good
ReplyDeletei just realized you're blogging again. love it.
ReplyDeletedon't completely be a different person, i still like that girl that use to walk in front of my door with the silly faces ;)
but it's amazing, to see how God changes us, that it's not over. he's still with us, still bringing us closer and closer to him.
oh Emilie, I will never stop being that girl with the faces and the door. love you. Thanks for your words.
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