Worry and God's Will

When I decided to look at Psalm 37 with an eye for how my expectations should relate to God's will, I didn't expect so much of this chapter to be about worry. As much as it pains me to admit, I am often a Mr. Worry:

Poor Mr Worry.  

Whatever happened, he worried about it.  

If it rained, he worried that his roof was going to leak.  

If it didn't rain, he worried that all the plants in his garden were going to die.

You get the idea. (And if you're not familiar with Britain's Mr. Men series, you should be. They are fantastic.)

Equally shocking to me was the realization that my worrying does demobilize my ability to trust that God will establish my steps (Psalms 37:23). Anxiety, as Kevin  DeYoung says in Just Do Something, is living out the future before it arrives. Anxiety could also be described as the enemy of trust. We must understand that God's will is always taking place - why, then, do we worry about God's will? It has happened, it is happening, and it will happen!

Delighting in Christ allows us to be certain about our future. God wants us to trust His promises for tomorrow, and the next day, and the one after that. Several of these promises for the children of God are found in Psalm 37 alone:

• We will dwell in the Lord's land. (verse 3)
• We will be given the desires of our heart. (verse 4)
• God will act when our way is committed to him. (verse 5)
• We will have righteousness and justice. (verse 6)
• Though we fall, we will not be cast aside. (verse 24)
• God will be ever generous with us. (verse 25-26)

And those are just a few verses! It's important to understand that this secure future was purchased by the atoning blood of Jesus. Christians around the world have just celebrated (or, if you're like me, are still celebrating) the birth of the Christ-child. Christmas, though, isn't ultimately about a cradle - it is about the cross. We must not forget that God came to dwell among us. We must not forget that Jesus was fully God and fully man. Jesus is the answer to Job's cries for an arbitrator to represent both infinite and finite parties in Job 9. And it is Jesus who will empower you to be anxious for nothing, but to cheerfully and expectantly watch God's will at work in your life. 

Unlikely Christmas Thoughts

This morning, I find myself in North Carolina. My hometown. Though I oddly feel like a stranger in my hometown, there is one place where I never feel like a passerby - Broad River Coffee Company. It's where I worked my first job. Was introduced to indie music. Learned how to pull a perfect shot of espresso. Where I, in many ways, was first introduced to adult responsibilities.

And this rainy Christmas Eve morning, I find myself drinking a cup of coffee as a nondescript customer. I'm continuing to study My Expectations and God's Will and another set of verses from Psalm 37 shouted for my attention.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the LORD upholds his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 (ESV)

What in the world does established steps and not being cast headlong have to do with Christmas? I'll tell you.

On Sunday, traveling through Tennessee on my way to the Land of the Pine, I stopped to attend Cornerstone Church of Knoxville. What a passionate, Christ-exalting congregation! The sermon was the final of their Advent series and entitled "Christ our Mediator". The pastor brought to light that Jesus is always mediating, or interceding, on our behalf before the Father. The wonder of the Christ-child isn't that he remained a baby, but that he grew up to be a man and atone for the sins of the world - my sins and your sins. Now, Jesus stands in Heaven and says, "Father, I know Victoria has sinned and she doesn't deserve your grace. Here, look at my perfect sacrifice on Calvary. Apply my payment to her sin debt. I love her; she is mine."

A Delight to Trust

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:1-4

As we trust God, we become friends of faithfulness. We land in His land. We are granted the desires of our heart. To trust in God, then, is truly a delight.

Psalm 37:4 is echoed in Job, "For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God." (Job 22:26 ESV) It is important to note that in Psalm, as in Job, our heart's desires are not our heart's whims. God does promise to grant us what our heart desires, under the banner of our first delighting in Him. As we delight, we will desire the right things - we will desire what the Lord desires for us.

In a brief word, what does the Lord desire for us? To be like his Son, Jesus Christ.

Lord,

Meld your desires with my desires. Make my expectations resemble your will for my life. May I look more and more like Christ daily.

In Jesus' name,  

Yes and Amen

My Expectations & God's Will

I expect great things. I've always expected great things, for myself and for others. I'm certainly a dreamer, usually a glass half-full kind of girl. I'm always imagining and re-imagining future plans. O, the possibilities!

These grand expectations of mine really only have one foil: reality.

To be perfectly honest, the last time my expectations were wholly met and exceeded happened in 2010, during my semester abroad in Scotland. Why? I haven't a clue. I truly didn't know what to expect and, in the Old Country, the LORD taught me to expect Him. I certainly was blessed to make friends and have experiences beyond my wildest dreams, but I did learn that when we expect God to work in our live we can be sure a grand adventure is to follow.

Since returning from Scotland, nothing has gone the way I expected it. I mean nothing. It's not been all bad, but it's certainly not been what I expected.

Actually, since returning from the UK I've been at great odds with My Expectations and God's Will. Through reflecting over the past two years, Ben - my future husband - suggested I study the two and how they relate.

I'm using Psalms 37 as my base text. I'm also going to be reading through two books 1) Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung and 2) Found: God's Will by John MacArthur.

I'll be blogging my reflections here. Join me, won't you?