Understanding isn't Necessary

Understanding isn't Necessary
by David Brenneman

From one of my Devotionals:

Unseen Strengthening
"The proof of your faith . .. may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:7

     When your faith is stretched to the limit and your dreams are shattered, everything in you may be telling you to give up. But don't-do not surrender. Choose to believe God despite everything around you. When you experience a situation for which answers are lacking and there seems to be no hope, you're facing a test of faith. However, be assured, there will never be a valley so deep or mountain so high that God is impeded from helping you.
What's happening is that the Lord sees something in you worth
developing, and He's removed evidence of His activity from your
sight so your trust in Him will be exercised.
     Each test of faith you endure is an opportunity for you to mature spiritually and believe God for greater things. Though it may be difficult for you to perceive the good in your trial, the Lord is getting you to the point where you can say, "Jesus Christ is sufficient." So be confident that you'll find Him absolutely faithful. Once He reveals what He's been doing in the unseen, you'll be able to share your testimony of His awesome provision with others with joy and authority.

Jesus, I don't see You, but I will continue to trust You.
Amen.
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It's always at the forefront of probably every single person's mind: the craving to understand a why behind that particular incident or peculiar situation that they or someone they know is facing.

In my daily life I have come to know and understand that when it comes to many things and situations, God has indeed endowed me with an ability to put puzzles together, to be able to troubleshoot situations or equipment in certainly different ways.  But not always.  Sometimes I am to trust that it's best that I don't pursue certain answers.  To move on.  Let it go because He’s not going to allow the answers to be known for now or in this lifetime.

Indeed it's surely to Trust in the Lord with all my heart and to not lean on my own understanding and in all my ways to acknowledge Him that He will make my paths straight.

Job's distresses in his life he faced with no understanding as to the real why.  He understood at some point that the Lord was involved but he knew nothing of the real battle. Perhaps he learned afterwards, we have no record of that.  The book was written, after all, and someone did either the writing personally or through interviews. 

We sometimes retreat from the unknown out of fear or self-preservation.  Sometimes through the leading of the Spirit. 

We often don't seek answers that maybe we should. 

That particular devotional was one that really hit home with me. 

We are, as I am, His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.  We are, as I am, to live our lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
We are, as I am, not going to understand everything. We are to set our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

A soldier in training is being trained in all the necessary physical ways as well as all the mental ways. 

A student at a college or university is being trained in mental ways. 

A doctor only is one because they've proven that they have the knowledge to safely and successfully fulfill their position.

A soldier in the field of battle should only be there if they've successfully completed their training.

We who are in Christ...are different.
We are always in training in righteousness because of the ongoing work of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus in us.

We always are learning, if our hearts are tender towards it, to growing in Christ.  Our sanctification is an ongoing thing in this life unless it's completed at our passing from this world or the Rapture of the Church. 

My Dear Reader...Jesus is always at our side, sometimes speaking to us, sometimes leading us only in silence.  But He’s always there.

Take a keener interest in walking with Jesus than you have been. 

What things in your life are literally self-inflicted that need to go?

What things are you doing or ways have you allowed yourself to think in that are not what you want to be involved with if the Lord Jesus Christ should return and find you so occupied?

Choice is at the heart of our daily lives.  A choice to trust and obey when we can't figure things out and to trust and obey when we think we do.  Regardless of whether we think we understand or not...we are to keep our faith at the forefront...to lean not on our own understanding. 

Our relationship with Jesus is everything.  Job's life was what it was with God because he put that first.  Abraham's life was what it was because of his relationship with God.  Enoch's life was what it was because he valued his relationship with God above all else.

The pillars of the faith in Hebrews 11 are because they valued their relationship with Jesus above all else. 

Status, money, nothing is more important than your relationship with Jesus.

As it says in the Scriptures: the mind of man plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps. 

So plan your steps with Jesus and leave them there.  It may not be easy but it will always be right.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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