and consider, instead, the LORD

Is there something gnawing on you today?  Maybe has been for a while?  Not quite sure what to do...or even how to feel?  Keep trying to make sense of it so that you can make the right decision...if only you knew what that was?

Yeah, me too.  

So today when I was explaining to a dear friend how much I didn't know what to do, knowing full well that she wouldn't know or be able to tell me what to do either, she pulled out the wildly simple and pertinent, "Have you asked the Lord to show you clearly what to do?  Have you asked Him to lead you in it, knowing that if you do simply what He's leading you to, you will have His perfect peace?"

A bunch of excuses immediately fell from my heart, exposing thoughts I didn't realize I had...thoughts of, "Well, I haven't asked Him what to do in this situation because it's NOT like He really cares about something dumb like this" and "No matter what, I'm never going to feel peace in this situation" and "I'm sure God doesn't care what I do about my trite little heartbreaking dilemma."

Actually....NO.

NO, I haven't asked Him to clearly show me what He would have me do.  

I act as if.

As if He is some faraway God who cares not for our dailies, who cares not for our heartbreaks, who cares not for our decisions.

As if He is some tiny God who canNOT give peace bigger than a circumstance, who canNOT breathe hope into a situation mere mortals have determined hopeless.

As if He is some out-of-touch friend who doesn't know how to guide us, doesn't have enough details to lead the way, who doesn't "get it".

As if He is some silent Father who has no path, who is indifferent to what I do, whom I thought was with me and turn to find myself abandoned.

As if.

I seem to be in a place in life of being humbled continually.

It is by His grace.  I will take it.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert;

The did not find a way

They were hungry and thirsty

their souls fainted within them

THEN they cried out to the Lord in their trouble

He delivered them out of their distresses

He led them also by a straight way

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His love

and for His wonders to the the sons of men!

For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,

and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

He sent His word and healed them,

and delivered them from their destructions.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His love

and for His wonders to the sons of men!

Those who go down to the sea in ships,

who do business on great waters;

they have seen the works of the Lord

and His wonders in the deep.

They were at their wits' end.

and they cried to the Lord in their trouble

and He brought them out of their distresses

He caused the storm to be still,

and He guided them to their desired haven

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His love,

and for His wonders to the sons of men!

Who is wise?  Let him think about these things,

and consider instead the lovingkindess of the Lord.

Psalm 107