Whatever, God.

“Whatever, God. You asked us to do this, and now You’re not showing up.”

I’ve muttered these words more than a few times over the past 85 days. Every time we have a showing of our home, my hope rises wondering if this is the buyer.

But the response from the 34 families that have toured our home to see if it will be their next one has been – “Nice home, but will not be making an offer.”

Ugh. Whatever.

My husband and I both believe God has called us to move. But after so many let-downs, I can’t help but wonder if we really heard Him right.

Have you ever wondered the same thing in your circumstance?

Truth is, full knowledge can be much easier to navigate than blind faith.

It would be easier to trust Him if I knew for sure that our home would sell for the price we wanted in the timeframe we needed. Amen?

Don’t we all crave those kinds of divine assurances?

If we knew the end of the journey before we even started down the crooked path, trusting God would be a piece of cake.

… Oooo, cake.

But it doesn’t work that way.

It usually works this way instead…

God refines us through the process. We learn lessons walking through the wilderness. We find tools to fight the battles ahead. We remove baggage that slows us down.

And in an odd twist, we become stronger through it all.

But most of the time… if we were to be completely honest… we’d admit to hating the process.

~ I don’t like to write, I like to have written.

~ I don’t enjoy preparing a meal, I like sitting at the table with my family.

~I don’t like the treadmill, but I like fitting into my clothes.

~ I don’t like walking through the unknown, but I like the intimacy it creates between me and God.

So often when God calls me to “something”, I expect it to be a smooth ride. Like all the pieces will fall into place, easy-peasy. Like it will be effortless on my part, cuz it’s just meant to be.

Like every obstacle in my path will bow down because my journey has been ordained into easy-ness by the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. (Said in a cheesy game show host’s voice, with a large dose of sarcasm.)

And in my frustration at the un-tamable God and the un-controllable process, I try to figure Him out.

I try to crack the code… find the right formula… or click my heels together and repeat the desired outcome.

But God can’t be boxed up nicely with a bow on top. Believe me, I’ve tried.

His ways are not our ways. His timing is rarely our timing. The path He chooses for us isn’t rock-less, or dust-less, or serpent-less.

And most of the time, it’s an uphill climb. Both ways. Barefoot. In the snow.

But there is great purpose in the process.

… So when He asks us to do something His way,

… When we say “yes” to taking that next step,

… When we decide to believe that His best for us is imminent,

… When we understand that a “no” along the way means a better “yes” down the road,

… Then we can trust God’s plan without having all the end-of-the-journey answers.

And instead of saying, “Whatever, God” with sarcasm and frustration, we’ll say, “Whatever, God” with a humble and peaceful spirit.

Because we’ll know that His best is right around the next curve.

 

 

 

©2014 Carey Scott