God’s Not Delusional. You Are.

Insight 77 | Has anyone ever told you to “trust the process” or said “you’ll understand when you're older”?

Growing up, these two phrases would irk me quite a bit. I often found myself frustrated with those who gave it as an answer because it seemed like an easy way out of difficult conversations. The funny thing is that now that I'm a bit older, it seems to me that they may just have been a little right.

For whoever needs to hear this today, please remember: “Just because God is taking you the long way doesn’t mean he’s taking you the wrong way.”*

I am by no means a Taylor Swift fan, but it's essential to give credit where credit is due, and she may have reminded all of us of one of life's greatest truths in this one simple lyric:

“It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me.”

Have you ever noticed that you're the common denominator in all your problems? Ironic, isnt it?

I'm not sure who convinced us that we know what's best for ourselves, but reality check: we don’t. Yes, we all sometimes have a certain sense of good intuition, what my mother likes to call your “God Feeling.” And yes, there are specific nudges our souls experience that later prove to be incredible life decisions. But those exceptions aside, common sense isn't that common these days.

See, if any of these sound familiar:

We know we shouldn’t reach back out, but we do anyway. We convince ourselves, “I can change them,” but no one has changed them in years. We go ahead and tell everyone it'll be the last time, and then do it again. Or my personal favorite, we walk around saying, “That’s not a red flag … it's more like a sunset orange,” and then ask those around us what they think… 

My friend, I think you're colorblind.

Sure, we can laugh and think back on some of those dumb, childish mistakes when we are still young and naive, but the reality is, we all grow up and still find ourselves making so many of the same ones. And yet still, even after years of proving that we need help, we rarely go ahead and seek it. 

Instead, we dare to bow our heads, close our eyes, and cozy up to God with a “I would love it if you (fill in the blank).” We carry our delusions to the throne of the divine and read aloud our list of demands, claiming “if only this” or “if only that” THEN it would all be alright. But if you're anything like everyone else in the world, you’ll know, God most times seems to have some sort of terrible delay on these types of prayers. Here is a radical thought: Maybe God is protecting you from you!

Find peace and comfort in the fact that whatever is in question, God's understanding wholly surpasses our own. Such that He already has “it” prepared for us, but in the meantime, he is praying for “it”. Remember, there is no “right thing” at the “wrong time”. It was simply the wrong thing. Why? Because God doesn't make mistakes with his timings.

Whenever I take a moment to look back on my life, I'm overcome with gratitude to the Lord for all the no’s he gave me. He made sure to provide me with a healthy dose of what my mama likes to call Vitamin N (that's Vitamin “No” for all the uninitiated). 

Every “love of my life” that he shipped away, every door he’s shut, and every opportunity he’s let fall through seems like the best decision now that I'm a few years detached.

• Moving over a thousand miles away to live in an environment completely unlike anything I've ever experienced? Phenomenal decision.

• Choosing a degree in a field I have never previously considered? Wonderful choice.

• Staying absolutely single in preparation for my future wonderful wife? Also, incredible (lol).

I am aware that what I am saying is perhaps not revolutionary, but that very same reason makes it so important. We often forget what we have mentally labeled as “cliché,” while ignoring that it wouldn't be a cliché if it didn’t hold some truth. 

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Socrates is attributed to having once said, "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." 

It's a comment on why wisdom requires an attitude of learning and intentional humility, one that recognizes our own ignorance and doesn't fall into the trap of thinking we know everything. With this in mind, maybe it's not a denial, but only a delay. Or perhaps it's simply not meant for you; God has something else in mind. Regardless, God’s never been wrong, and he’s not going to start now.

If you feel like you’re doing your part, but life is still running ahead without you, take a deep breath and remind yourself: Just because God is taking me the long way doesn’t mean he’s taking me the wrong way.

- Making The Most Of Being Curious

Daniel J. Cuesta

Sources:

God Sees The Whole Picture: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord… -  Isaiah 55:8–9

It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me:

• The heart is deceitful above all things… - Jeremiah 17:9

• There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. - Proverbs 14:12

• Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. - Proverbs 30:2

God’s Timing Is Intentional (Not Accidental): For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1

*(Just because God is taking you the long way doesn’t mean he’s taking you the wrong way.

• Initial source of inspiration. It is essential to give credit where credit is due: Link