Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

“True joy is not found in the satisfaction of our desires, but in the enjoyment of God Himself, who alone is our exceeding delight.” ~ Jonathan Edwards

“To look to ourselves for comfort is idolatry; to look to God is the cure for despair.” ~ R. C. Sproul

 “The soul that trusts in God finds joy in His sovereignty, peace in His providence, and hope that is never confounded.” ~ Richard Baxter

Some seek to unburden their hearts by sharing what they are going through with others but they find no hope, no joy—just those ready to tell them how great they are and how amazing they are. It gives no real comfort; it only adds to the burden. The truth is, we’re not the heroes in our own story, and while we may feel empowered from such conversations, they simply don’t last long til we realize how “not great” and “not amazing” we really are. These may be trying to help, but they just made us our own hero and god in our lives. We just don’t need that! We are not God!

Others run to “Christians” who comfort them much the same but now doing it in God’s name. They tell them to “remember who you are,” “you are made for more,” “you have authority over this,” “your words are powerful, so use your words to come against what is after you and bind satan and rebuke what is attacking you and speak life into your situation.” I mean, who needs God when they just gave them equal authority with God and they can speak and do what they so desire? They are now “like God”.

But then there are those Christians who listen, come alongside, and who remind you who God is. They don’t promise what they cannot promise to try to make you feel better—health, wealth, job promotion, family reconciliation, or whatever you desire. They remind you who God is: He is sovereign, and He is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. You don’t know how He is working it out but you know that while what you look at hurts and is not as you would like it to be—and though it appears out of control and hopeless— He is God and He is sovereign. To that Christian, that is enough, because He is enough. No matter what happens, He is enough, and we know that He is in control.

We have joy in our circumstances—good and bad—because we have God. It is not a pursuit of God to have what we desire so we may have joy. No! He is enough. No matter how things work out, He is our joy; He is enough.

We do not abandon prayer; rather, we are all the more encouraged to pray because He is sovereign, and we have certainty in the midst of what looks uncertain. God is Sovereign, and we can trust Him.

Grace and Peace, y’all
Soli Deo Gloria

April J. Buchanan