Choosing the Path

Choosing the Path
by David Brenneman

     It's been a journey of a kind that I have never considered traveling in the last 8 months.  Twists and turns that I had never a thought to think about.  While yes I was considering an employment change, having it thrust upon me unexpectedly and without any recompense, has taken quite a bit to adjust to.  When the truth was shared at the time I thought maybe that would have cleared things up.  But the rage towards me wasn't listening to the truth. 
     To this day I can tell you what kind of day it was.  The shock at being escorted out of the building and the astonishment that nobody seemed to care about the truth.  The decision was made before the day I was called as to what it was.
But what they don't know is what I know...nothing touches my life unless it's been permitted by my Savior.  While it's been something of an experience that I hope to never go through again, it's evident that God has me in the right place and the right time to go through it.
     Paul was a very organized man who planned pretty well the trips he was taking.  Yet on one such trip the way to go got abruptly blocked.  He tried a few times it seemed but Jesus wasn't permitting his travels to Asia.  Rather a message came a short time later to go to Macedonia. 
Undoubtedly this was probably confusing to Paul at the time until the message to go to Macedonia came from God.  I'm right there in being somewhat confused in the direction of my life as well.  Yet I have no doubts whatsoever of looking at the last 8 months at the hands of God crafting the ways for us to go.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.  Our ways and days are always before Him, and as the Scriptures say as well, before there was even one of them. 
     I can either look ahead and freak out about the unknowns or look instead at my Savior in anticipation of what He's going to do about it. The situation that we're in is not ours.  God promises to take care of everyone who belongs to Him. It's on us to trust in Him and not to try to figure out ourselves on how to fix things.  We may have a role in resolving it or we may not.  My role was to fulfill my obligations to search for a job.  Was required both by my conscience as well as the State of Ohio's unemployment services. 
     We may never know why our experiences were what they were.  For me it's drawn me closer to Jesus.  Which is what life ought to be doing as we go through it.  I refused to compromise in the time I set aside to study God's Word.  I had asked the Spirit to teach me how to study and that's what He began at the beginning of January of last year.  It's meant learning more of saying no to some things in life because we needed to be more frugal to get through this.  Situations arose that yet still required our trusting in His provision.  We as yet have needs but we know that God will provide.

     What else is there to say?  Well there is more but perhaps saying it fully isn't appropriate for this post.  Safe to say, I have learned a long time ago, don't mess with God's kids. God is dealing with those who wrongfully discharged me.  Just as He's dealt with others in my past.

     Jesus is always mindful of us and where we are in light of His plans for us and where we fit into His plans for humanity.  We aren't saved to just be saved and go on living life our way.  He saves us, gives us a new spirit within us and has work for us to be doing.  His highest priority is our sanctification...becoming more like Jesus Christ.  His extended work is reaching a lost world of which every single Believer is an Ambassador of God.  There are no exceptions.  We are to identify who is and isn't saved and always stay in communication with Jesus over it all.  Even when it makes absolutely no sense.  The root cause of my termination wasn't anything against any policy or procedure.  I befriended a brother in Christ after a company get together.  That was the true root cause and not what I had been accused of.  

     You too may face things that make no sense either at the time or for the rest of your life.  That was what happened with Job.  We read of all kinds of situations in the Scriptures with ever kind of response by people.  Either in their rock solid stand on the Word of God or all the way to the other end of the spectrum to their staunch beliefs that were counter to everything that the Lord was saying to them.

     Everyone will be without excuse when they stand before Jesus.  The truth will be shown and there's nothing anyone will be able to say about it.  Those seeking justice while they yet lived will find it on that day. 

     You can choose to either drop to your knees in fear and self-pity or drop to your knees in prayer to the One who's got our best in mind regardless of how things look.

     Slowly read this, then read it several more times.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Romans 8:28-30.

Lastly...

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:12-17.

     Choose His path for you.  Regret has no place there.  You won't find it.

"Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen." Romans 15:33.

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