Who hasn’t been overwhelmed by a vast and unclear future?
It’s like the inspirational line in movies “you can do anything if you just set
your mind to it”. There are
limitless possibilities and opportunities all leading every different
direction. There may be an end goal in sight with no clear directions on how to
best arrive there, or it could be the opposite, you can have a map laid out for
you but maybe you don’t see the end location. At age 18 high school students
are directed to choose the college of their choice where they will spend the
next four (or maybe more) years of their lives studying to prepare for a career they will have
after college. It’s the American dream. If you work hard enough, if you do well
enough, you can do anything, you can get there. The goal and the journey to get
there become totally self-centered and self-sustained.
Yet in scripture I find a different view. The Lord is
sovereign to lead, and His people are submissive and obedient to follow, often
not knowing where they are being led. It is never about the person’s actions or
how hard they work. The journey is the story of God’s sovereignty and
provision.
Noah is told to build a boat because the earth will flood. I
can’t imagine in the slightest what that would look like or the abundance of
rain that would take. Noah didn’t disobey although this sounds like a crazy dream or hallucination. I can only imagine how much Noah was mocked and scolded for building a giant boat because the earth was going to be covered in water. But Noah
trusted in God, knowing that He is good and sovereign always.
Ruth had no prospects or earthly provision, but she
willingly followed the path the Lord had laid for her. Ruth had married one of
Naomi’s two sons. Naomi’s husband and both sons died and left her helpless.
Ruth stayed with Naomi even in bleak prospects. They had no men to work or care
for them or even provide them with shelter and protection. Ruth couldn’t
possibly know what was in store for her in her future. She was widowed and
following her mother-in-law to an unknown land. Instead of return to her own
people or doubt God’s power, Ruth remains steadfast and faithful to God and to
Naomi.
Although the future is full of possibilities and options, I
see one over-arching path to the journey. Faith. There is a peace and
confidence in not knowing- it’s God’s sovereignty. Knowing that the Creator has
complete control of your every circumstance lifts such a burden. Relationships,
work, provision, it’s all out of your hands. Type A personalities who like to
be in control find this so frustrating and defeating. Your works and attempts
are irrelevant. Not unimportant, but they are not a controlling or determining
factor. You are so loved by God that nothing you do or do not do can change His
love for you. His love for you is perfect, and He will fulfill is perfect love
in your life. Sometimes that means not knowing, and that’s ok. When you don’t
know what the future holds, remember what you do know: God is sovereign. With
this in mind, walk in faithfulness and obedience.
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return
from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will
lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I
will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if
anything but death parts me from you.”
-Ruth 1:16-17-
And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh,
for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them
with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in
the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch… For behold, I will bring a flood of waters
upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under
heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my
covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife,
and your sons' wives with you…Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
-Genesis 6:13-14, 17-18, 22-
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