Have you ever watched a film you thought looked so awesome in the previews, but halfway in you guess the outcome? A bit disappointing to say the least. And if you know me, even just a little, you would know that I enjoy movies more than your average bear…
Isn’t the best kind of movie the one that keeps you engaged and leaves you guessing until the very end, and only then does the story come together like a puzzle, leaving you entertained. And in the end, all the theories you came up with seem silly compared to the real outcome of the story. Are you following where i’m going with this? It relates to God’s own plan for us…his children.
Intermission: Read Judges Chapter 7
Cliffnotes…God uses an army of 300 led by Gideon to defeat the Midianite army. At the beginning of the story, you anticipate an epic battle scene…however, this is when God flips the script on everyone. God informs Gideon that he has too many soldiers and reduces his numbers from 32,000 to 300. So we’re expecting God to clean house with these guys just like in that other movie with 300 warriors….not quite. God has Gideon and his soldiers surround the Midianites and smash jars, wave torches, and blow trumpets (say what?!). The Midianites proceed to draw their weapons and start killing one another…game over. God used 300 men so there would be no question where their strength came from and who delivered the victory.
That is not necessarily what I would expect to see in a movie. Aren’t God’s plans that much better than anything we could dream up, if we’d just let go? So i’ll share with you my approach to allowing God to work in my life, which happens to be the same way I watch a movie. Ready….
I just sit back and enjoy the ride. I stop trying to figure out the ending and how we’re going to get there. I embrace the circumstances i’m in. I understand there will be highs, lows, disappointments, joy, excitement, heartbreak, adventure, sorrow, redemption, deliverance, courage…but since I know God is the man behind the curtain orchestrating the production, that is my life, the story will be much greater than anything I can think up for myself. And once the story is complete…I’ll be the guy picking up his jaw when it undoubtedly hits the floor…
