So while we were in Greece we had the privilege of leading a Bible Study at one of the 2 church sites that our contact pastors. This particular church is based out of Athens.
We didn’t know that we were leading a Bible Study till the day before, but honestly it was better than we could have hoped for. The study covering material out of James chapter 4. As we were discussing through the chapter, the conversation seemed to settle on the topic of submission to God.
As I was listening to the 6 or so other (non-WR people) talk about submission to God I had this thought… okay who are we kidding… it’s me… so I had quite a few thoughts… however, they looked something like this:
“I see submission to God as a ‘bad’ thing… in a ‘this is so not going to be fun kind of way’. Why is this? Is this something I was taught, or something I really feel? Who do I know God to be? Why is it so important that I submit to Him anyway?”
As I began to mentally review these questions I was incredibly surprised by the answers that came.
If I look at my life, even if it is just over the last year and a half, every time I have submitted to God in a way that was at first uncomfortable and difficult, it has turned out Wonderfully.
Lately I have been continually amazed at the fact that God brought me on this trip called the World Race. Something that was not apart of my plans, and that I was actually mad at God for asking me to do. However, God was not deterred by my frustration. He asked me to do it anyway… and He took me to Greece. God let me throw a temper tantrum and then gave me 40-some amazing people, 2 new families, and a trip around the World. Why? Why did He do this?
Maybe… just maybe it is because He knows me better than I know myself. He knew that I would throw a temper tantrum, but He also knew that I would LOVE this, and He loves me enough to allow and want me to experience it despite my temper tantrum. He knew that I would come to month 10 and that I would bring myself to tears almost every time I think of leaving these people and this life…. that’s how much I would love it. He knew that I would have the ability to not only touch other lives but be touched myself.
God is Faithful… God is Good… God is Loving… God is Merciful… God is__________ (fill in the blank). He is all things wonderful, and He asks us to submit to Him to come under that Grace, Love, Mercy, Power, Faithfulness….etc. Why do we fight Him? Am I so easily fulfilled by ease and apathy that I would rather sit in my stubbornness then submit to this God, even if it is a little painful at times? He blows my socks off every time I trust Him and step out on a limb. Every time I risk… He NEVER EVER lets me down.
I know full well that submission does not always mean comfort, and sometimes it is downright difficult… however, God always supersedes our expectations if we let Him… so lets give Him control… let Him cover… submission doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It might just be as amazing as a trip around the world with some of the best people you could imagine, learning and seeing places that you never dreamed possible!!!
