Where to go from there...

If it is true, and I believe that it is, that "All is as it should be" with our good and sovereign God...where do we go from there? It has been my experience that simply "knowing" this truth doesn't necessarily change my heart or mind. It certainly doesn't change my circumstances or keep new developments (or lack of developments) from shaking me in some way or provoking emotion. It does not keep my flesh from wanting what it wants and wanting to rage against what is. So, if simply knowing isn't the solution...isn't the way to rest, what is? Do we have a part to play?

It has been my experience that we usually always have a part to play.

When I say "All is as it should be" I do not mean that we are to simply sit and wait and watch God work. Sometimes that is the way it is. Sometimes He forbids us from touching or working on a thing He wants to do. But mostly, he gives us responsibilities. Mostly, we are called to do or actively not do something; we are called to change; we are called to take steps; or we are called to sacrifice in some way.

Life will always bring uncertainty, perplexity, change, difficult circumstances. But we have a promise of help that David speaks of in Psalm 73: "Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."—Psalm 73:24.

Knowing that "All is as it should be" is the first step, believing that God is our guide and will counsel us...and lead us to glory is the next step. The head knowledge becomes heart knowledge when it is applied and put into action. Heart knowledge leads to wisdom, which can then change the tambre and color and intensity of whatever uncertainty, perplexity, change, difficult circumstances we face.

Charles Spurgeon writes: The Psalmist felt his need of divine guidance. He had just been discovering the foolishness of his own heart, and lest he should be constantly led astray by it, he resolved that God's counsel should henceforth guide him. A sense of our own folly is a great step towards being wise, when it leads us to rely on the wisdom of the Lord. ... and so would we give ourselves up implicitly to divine guidance, nothing doubting; assured that though we cannot see, it is always safe to trust the All-seeing God. ... Be assured that thy God will be thy counsellor and friend; He shall guide thee; He will direct all thy ways. ... This is thy portion; live on it this day, and if perplexities should surround thee, go in the strength of this text straight to the throne.

Our hearts are indeed foolish and wayward and in need of divine guidance. As Spurgeon says, this a a giant step toward wisdom. Without this knowledge we might never know our need of God, and never know the reality of His leading and guiding and help. He also says this - the promise of guidance and help, God as our counsellor and friend - is our portion. We tend to think of material blessings as our portion. If we have what we need and then some, if we receive some cherished wish or stumble upon some wonderful act of providence we think "My cup truly does runneth over!" But these are incidentals to God. These are not our portion. Our portion is Him...fellowship and fathering and friendship with Him. Healings and treasures and all other blessings pale in comparison.

This is where we go from "there"... We go from seeing our circumstances for what they are to seeing that, in God's sovereign goodness all is as it should be to seeing that He is our ever present help and guide and counsellor to seeing that, if all else falls away and all we have is Him it would be our greatest good. He is our greatest good.