All Things Serve Jesus
I discovered a phrase from the psalmist which has repeatedly been a resting place for my spirit: “…all things serve you” (Psalm 119:91).
I shared this verse and the concept that all things serve God with a friend. A few days later she told me that the verse encouraged her to trust God despite her inability to see how God was answering her prayers for her son. After being in college six years, he is once again considering changing his major. “God can make all of this serve Him,” she said remembering how her husband had not decided to go to medical school until he was 26 years old. His parents, too, might have felt he was totally confused and lacking direction. Looking back, though, she could see that God had caused their seemingly circuitous route to serve Him.
A phrase from Paul’s words to the Romans gives me great encouragement when I’m beginning to doubt that God can make my present circumstance one of the “all things” that serve Him. “How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out” (11:33 NIV). When I was a little girl, I liked to trace pictures. Pretending I could actually draw lovely pictures myself, I’d put a thin sheet over a picture and begin tracing. But there’s no tracing God’s ways!
We may think we know how He will answer our prayers. Then nothing appears to be happening. We despair when all visible signs of activity fade away and we are tempted to doubt He has heard our call for help. Suddenly we see evidences that He has been at work. Gracious answers to our prayers appear in fresh, totally unexpected places. We are surprised He has been quietly causing all the puzzling pieces to serve His purposes. There is simply no tracing His ways. He works undercover! He always does this for those who trust Him.
Jesus, even though Your ways are often hidden, I acknowledge that You are with me and have heard my prayer.
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them” (Daniel 2:20-21).
