God is for Me

I have recently joined a new women's Bible study and I LOVE it - for several reasons.  

First of all, it is comprised of an eclectic (used in the most honoring and loving sense of the word) group of women.    

Second, this diverse group of ladies is facilitated by an on fire, crazy for Jesus, rabbit-hole chasing, truth delivering woman.  :)

And last (although now I'm thinking that maybe this should have been first) is that we are doing a Beth Moore study!  If you know me, you know what learning under the teaching of Beth does for my soul.  It's the main reason I jumped in to do this study.  They had me at the picture of the Beth Moore book on the flyer.  

Now, I am excited about getting to know these ladies and connecting and walking out life with them - but I am also being challenged every morning as I study God's Word.  Last week came the most radical insight - thus far.  Something that I already know.  Something that is foundational.  But something that I hadn't really thought through or challenged my spirit to evaluate lately.  

The Bible says that "God is for us."   (Romans 8.31) Do you believe this?  This is the challenge I am facing.  Beth asked us to write about a time when we really knew that God was for us.  I immediately thought of a recent scary health diagnosis.  I felt as though God came along side me and fought for victory...for me.  (All future tests have come back clear.)

So as I continue on in my study book, Beth shares that we probably listed times when God brought victory on our behalf...things where the outcomes were what we had hoped for or better.  Totes.  Exactly what I wrote.  "Gold Star" for Kristen!  

BUT...then she writes, "In other words, our litmus test for whether we think God is really for us is circumstantial evidence."  

So when I don't get the job I was for sure God had for me, or the diagnosis is not good, or a relationship is in turmoil, or death comes way too soon for someone I love - God wasn't for me?  No, that can't be.  

Then Beth gave the example of parenting and great insight followed.  Many times as a parent, I have to make decisions for the sake of my boys - for their good.  They don't see it.  They think I'm mean or unreasonable or possibly even not "on their side" - not "for them".  They want to play video games all day long and not do any school. They get upset with me when I insist they set that controller down and pick up a book.  However, I know that they need more.  I'm not trying to take away something good, I'm preparing them for their future - for something better.  
Jesus said in John 13.7, "You don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will."  Beth explains that God "knows when something glorious in the future necessitates something difficult in the present."  And because "He knows the glory will be worth it, God will risk being misunderstood."

It really all goes back to what inspired this blog...Furnace Walking.  God was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they ruled and led in the land of Babylon and He was with them in the fire.  He didn't rescue them from the fire - but He did walk with them through it. 

God was for them.  
God is for me.
God is for you!  Who can be against you?