As much as I’d like to think that God takes the most direct and easy route to accomplish His will and bring about the good He has in store… He really doesn’t.
He seems to take a lot of detours and backroads.
He allows for many “two step forwards, one step back” type situations.
His plans are rarely, if ever, “straight.”
When we look at Scripture, God seems to allow for a lot of delays before His plans will come about.
I mentioned yesterday how God had a plan for salvation from the very beginning.
But let’s pause and realize that the Christmas story (His salvation plan) didn’t come togehter until thousands of years later!
Jesus could have came at any time in history, yet God waited… and waited… and waited some more. He waited for a precise moment.
Why?
I don’t know.
I can speculate and have heard some really good reasons from very smart people.
But in the end I need to trust that…
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
-Isaiah 55:8–9
I love how this verse carries a two-fold punch. God says…
“My ways are different than yours.”
and in case you were wondering
“They’re better than yours too.”
I don’t want this too be too long, but you should go check out Acts 7:1-53. It’s a section where Steven recounts some of the stories of the Hebrew people until that point. It only gives a couple examples, but it’s a great reminder of the roundabout way God brings about His plans.
Maybe you’re in the middle of a confusing or difficult time.
Maybe you don’t know how this could bring about God’s plan for your life.
If that’s you, know that you’re not alone.
If you’re wanting more to read today, I encourage you to also check out Hebrews 11:1-12:2. It’s a collection of people from scripture who had difficult sitations and didn’t always understand what God was doing. But they trusted Him and the Bible says that they are commended for their faith and that we should be encouraged to walk this life by faith in Jesus because of what He has done and promises to do for those who put their hope in Him.
So, one of the many things we ought to be reminded of in the Christmas Story… This day in history that fulfilled thousands of years of planning and preperation… is that…
God’s plan is not a straight line
but He always comes through
And His way is always best.