No consequences, only results–trusting what God has allowed

This post is for family. And by ‘family,’ I mean those who have put their faith in God and, as such, have become one of his kids by the miracle and grace of adoption. Most of the time, I am speaking to all of God’s precious creatures, but today this is for my siblings in the faith. Just as our children have access to us and all of our resources in a way that non-children do not have, so it is with God. It is not that he’s unwilling. It’s that we must be willing. The golden key that unlocks the door to such access and favor and help? It is faith. It is available to us all, but we must choose it. Please do join me, won’t you?

One of the hardest questions in the human experience starts with ‘why.’ This ‘why’ question is, for some, the greatest obstacle to faith in God and many, stumbling upon it, have turned away. Here it is.

“Why does God allow evil?”

Whether you define evil as anything that originates from satan, the enemy of God, or whether you define it as hard and bad things that happen to all of mankind, the question still remains. Why on earth or in heaven above does God allow it?

While there is much about this that is above my pay grade, I want to teach you something that I’ve been learning. It first came to me from a teacher with much experience in the realm of spiritual warfare (I cannot recall ever hearing it before). This is what he said. “Even the demons must serve God’s purposes. Even they must serve at his command.” Those words landed solidly in my ears and in my heart, and ever since that day, I have been paying close attention.

I am starting to see what he means.

In one incident after another, I have watched it play out. Something hard and ugly happens–and here, I’m not talking about the garden variety trials we experience just by living on this planet. I mean something that feels darker, more ominous. It comes out of the blue with a swipe and a pow, and down you go. That kind of thing.

Anyway, one after another after another, this has been happening. Meanwhile, something else amazing has followed on its heels. In the aftermath of the attack–and because of it, actually–something good comes forth! Some breakthrough, some protective blessing, some good thing (I could blow your mind with stories) that would not have happened had the blow not occurred. Each time this happens, evil loses some ground in my life, and every time, I have had the grace to recover and grow on.

Because I know God and because I’m his kid, I well know the truth of Romans 8:28, “For all things work together for the good of those who love God and for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Practically speaking, what this means is that if it has come to me, it can only be because he’s allowed it. And here’s the new-to-me truth I want you to hear, for it still rings fresh in my heart.

“I do not have consequences. I have results. I want you to trust me with the results of what I allow.”

As I write, the light is dawning, and I see again what God’s about. “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage…They go from strength to strength (increasing in victorious power) ’til each appears before God in Zion (Psalms 84:5, 7).” In other words, his precious children grow on.

I am here to bear witness to that. From strength to strength I go. From strength to strength I grow, and my heart is set on pilgrimage, for one day I will appear before him in his Zion. The very thought of this appearing brings fresh courage and purpose and strength. Oh, glory.

May you, dear pilgrim, find fresh courage and strength to trust God for the results of what he allows. May you find the great joy in growing on. And on, and on, and on.

With love,

Rhonda