Monday's Marriage Moment -- How? I Don't Know.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
-Jeremiah 29:11


I know that God has given you great dreams. No doubt, He has made you great promises. Promises that your marriage will be dynamic. Promises that your finances will be stable and even flourish. Promises that your gifts will indeed make room for you. Yet, sometimes in the midst of those promises we have questions. Many of us wonder when. When will it come to pass? When will our time come? When will the hard stuff be over. Some of us wonder why. Why must we go through some things before we attain the promise? Why must we endure the hard stuff? I think I have asked all of those questions, but you know the one question that sometimes keeps me stuck: How? Not when...not why...but how? How God? How is what you promised going to come about from what I see? How am I going to get from where I am to what you showed me? How are things going to line up? How: in what manner and by what means? Have you ever wondered how things are going to happen? This is what God showed me this morning, though. When I get stuck on how things are going to happen I am not trusting Him. When I get stuck on how I am putting the weight of executing His plan on me instead of on Him. I am relying on my own strength instead of His. I think that I have to make something happen instead of allowing Him to make it happen through me. When I continue to try to figure out how I am trusting in my abilities instead of His, and it is obvious that my abilities pale in comparison. Here is the good news for you today: How is none of your concern! Did you get that? It is not for you to worry about. God will take care of the manner and means by which things happen for you. Your role is simply to trust and obey Him. So, I encourage you to embrace this phrase: I don't know. I know it's not comfortable to admit, but there is freedom in it if you will accept it. I don't know. I don't know how God is going to bring forth the ministry He has given me. I don't know how God is going to do the impossible in my life. I don't know how He is going to take my marriage to the next level. I don't know how He is going to cause my finances to flourish. I don't know how, but I know Him! I know that He is the answer. I know that His promises are yes and amen. I know that He has a good plan to prosper me. I know that He is not a liar. I know that He promises to perfect everything that concerns me. I know Him. Rest in that. You may not know how, but you know Him! He does not disappoint. He is faithful and consistent. Stop trying to figure out how and simply follow the next set of instructions He gives you. That's your part -- seek Him and obey what He tells you. As this year draws to a close, focus on knowing and loving Him. Trust Him to reveal His plans as you obey each step.