Simplicity


Last Spring I found myself in a stage of life in which I evoked the wisdom of my parents, a professor at Moody, and my aunt. I just needed some individuals older and wiser to speak into my life and pray with me. Although I just wanted someone to give me a straight answer as to what to do, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. So instead, I listened to their advice, Biblical counsel, and just processed everything the best I knew how.
However, while I was talking with my aunt one evening she gave me the best advice I have ever heard. I was pouring out my heart to her listening ears and after giving some of her initial thoughts she wisely said, “Sara, you need to ask God what He is trying to teach you through this”. I thought to myself, ‘Well yeah, I am doing that’; but as I thought more about it I realized I had neglected to do so. I was so caught up in my own thoughts, feelings, and emotions that I had completely forgotten to just sit at Jesus’ feet and ask what He wanted to teach me. So after we hung up I did exactly what she suggested. I just sat and wept, and asked what He wanted to teach me.
While I don’t think that God was just sitting there watching me suffer while He waited for me to finally ask what I needed to learn, I do think He has a certain joy and satisfaction when His children recognize their need for Him and His lessons that He so desperately wishes to convey to us. I think sometimes I am just too stubborn, or busy, or airheaded to actually stop and consider what it is I could be learning through a situation.
I am pleased to say that God revealed His faithfulness once again through this situation and I needed to learn that I was selfish and prideful. I wanted the easy way out and God showed me that the easy way is not always the best way; in fact; I wonder if it rarely is. I hope you take the time to ask God what He wants to teach you through difficult situations in your life. It seems like such a simplistic thing, but it really is so worthwhile.
 Psalm 100:5 “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

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