As soon as I read these words in "My Utmost for His Highest," by Oswald Chambers the other day, I knew I'd be sharing them with you..."We must never put our dreams of success as God's purpose for us, His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end..."
Ahhh...this truth hit me right between the eyes and shifted my current perspective on LIFE in a revolutionary way. I know God is interested in the journey, but to be told in such a bold way that God's END is the journey and not the destination we sometimes work so hard to arrive at is powerful. This truth makes you realize how ridiculous the idea of "clawing your way to the top" is. If God isn't glorified in the way you got there, the "top" becomes meaningless. Chamber goes on to explain why...
"What is my dream of God's purpose? His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God. God is not working toward a particular finish; His end is the process-that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is alright because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end which is glorifying to God."
True victory in life comes in seeing God walking on the waves, not that we find calmer seas. God wants to show us His power, and like Paul said, His strength is best seen in our weakness. We will have storms, troubles, and mountains to climb in life, so that God can prove Himself abundantly faithful time and time again...so His story in us grows uncontainable....so we must tell of His goodness since nothing good happens apart from Him...because the "good" we have to tell is nothing apart from His hand making it so. I think of this now, every time life with 3 little ones starts to feel overwhelming, and I feel I'm at the end of my strength to hold it all together. God is honored in my choice to love NOW. A successful mother or father is not only one whose child "makes it" in the way the world has defined success...no...a successful parent in God's eyes, is one who chooses to lovingly, patiently lead them in the way they should go...even and especially when no one is looking.
"God's training for us is now...His purpose is for this minute, not something in the future. We have nothing to do with the afterwards of obedience; we get wrong when we think of the afterward. What men call training and preparation, God calls the end."
John has been studying so diligently lately for his qualifying exams...the exams which qualify him to receive his doctorate once his course work and dissertation are complete. The above passage spoke to me so much about the intense time of "training" he is going through in this season of our life. When you are in school, your mindset can so easily become ..."I can't wait to get this all finished so that I have my degree!" We moved to Illinois so that John could get his degree. God has shown us that through our obedience in "going," He had much more in store for us than what can be obtained by an additional degree. John could easily get into the mode of checking requirements off the list, and moving though his studies as quickly as possible...He has found, however, that He is really enjoying the process of learning. What began as a quest for his END goal of a degree, has evolved into enjoying God's END for him which includes a life changing process we all feel blessed to be a part of.
"God's end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present: if we realize that obedience is the end, than each moment as it comes is precious."
Lord, you say that if we love you, we will obey your commands. May we...in humility...submit to your way for us through obedience, moment after moment...realizing, that through our obedience, we are responding to you in LOVE. Transform even our most chaotic moments into precious ones, as we get to see you walk on the waves of our life...making the storm a stage of your glory...
So true and said so well! It is so easy to forget that he is with us all the time. That how we behave in the midst of our storms truly does show God in our lives! You are such an inspiration from God and I am thankful he brought you guys to Illinois!!
This is an important reminder which I will share with my classes of seniors at Oaks Christian this year. Thank you.
Sheri Blackmon