Before
the Lord
I
stood before the Lord with all my questions and demands—
I
thought He should explain to me the workings of His hands.
I
felt I had a right to know where every path would end
And
what would lie ahead for me beyond each hill and bend.
I
wanted Him to give me peace by telling me the “why”
Of
troubles that I faced and joys that seemed to pass me by.
I
also didn’t think it fair, and clearly told Him so,
That
others walked in pleasant paths where my feet could not go.
He
listened very patiently until my speech was through,
Then
gently said, “Now let Me ask some simple things of you:
“If
you could see ahead, and know each joy and trial you’d face,
Would
you possess the grace and strength, the future to embrace?
“If
I should tell you all, from the beginning to the end,
What
fraction could your finite wisdom truly comprehend?
And
if the reasons for My acts before you were displayed,
How
would you qualify to judge the choices I have made?
“If
you could redirect the pow’r of Providence divine,
Would
you prefer to rest upon your wisdom more than Mine?
If
what I owe, against your debts to Me, we should compare,
What
would you place upon your side to prove I’ve not been fair?”
My
shame and sorrow grew with every searching word He said.
With
burning heart, I dropped upon my knees and bowed my head.
My
proud, complaining heart by awe and gratitude was stilled,
And
as I saw His love for me, my heart with trust was filled.
So
now I kneel before the Lord, receiving His command.
I
need not see what lies ahead; I need not understand.
Wherever
I may go, whatever things in life I face,
There’s
not a chance my needs will overdraw His boundless grace!
Nor
is there any circumstance in which I cannot prove
The
wonder of His all-sufficient wisdom, power, and love.
My
joy can now be full in any circumstance, you see—
For
all that I desire is that my Lord be seen in me!
May
your knowledge of God give you strength to wait on Him in difficult
times.
Why
sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the
Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not
known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the
Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the
faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even
the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly
fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:27-31
O
the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For
who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counselor?
Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him
again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to
Whom be glory for ever. Amen. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God. Romans 11:33 – 12:2
Thus
saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let
the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his
riches. But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he
understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise
lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in
these things I delight, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24