"So What"

 "Be strong and courageous! Don't be afraid
of the king of Assyria or his mighty army,
for there is a power far greater on our side!"
2 Chronicles 32:7 (NLT)

Why would we ever hear the words, "So What," when we are in awe of all that God has done in our lives? Because we may be in awe of what God has done, but someone is not…our enemy, Satan—he is alive and well. He has not "left the building." He is here, he is not happy, and that may be all he has left to throw at us when he has been defeated! Through the power of Jesus Christ, the victory is ours, just like it’s been promised! In the end, the enemy is like a bully on the playground, having met his match--he will be left with nothing much to say when all his battle-tactics have failed to achieve the goal he was hoping they would accomplish.

Some goals are complicated and very challenging to complete. The "recipe" can be difficult--the combination needs to be just right, the ingredients must work together perfectly or the "dough" will not rise in the warmth of God’s love. It will just sit there, never to be broken bread and poured out wine for the masses that may need it.

After completing the goal, if we hear the words, "So what," that’s okay. We are then called to wait on God for further instructions, because so much remains to be seen. We don’t know the plans God has for us, for anything, but we know there is a great peace in allowing His will to be done and being able to move forward in confident assurance that with obedience there is great blessing. Not monetarily, although that is always a possibility, but even more importantly, the furtherance of God’s Kingdom work to help the hurting and the lost and the hopeless. Hearts need to be nourished with the joy that God promises us when we believe His Word. If we are called to do that, then nothing should stop us from doing it!

 Only God knows the exact "ingredients" needed in each life so they will work together perfectly. Sometimes it takes heartache, and pain. Sometimes it takes healing and joy combined with listening and obedience. It always takes perseverance and prayer, prayer, prayer and resting in the call of God even when it doesn’t make sense--hoping beyond all hope that it is God calling us and we didn’t just imagine it all. But if we did, if we have chosen a wrong turn along the way, we can rest in the fact that God knows our hearts and that sometimes children make mistakes—when our intention is only to serve Him to the best of the ability He gives us each day, we should not fear a wrong turn now and then.

In the end, we may end up with some bumps, some bruises and some healing and rest that are greatly needed. It is good to know that God always gives us times to rest in green meadows as He leads us beside peaceful streams. (Psalm 23 NLT) It’s in resting there that God starts to bring all the beautiful pieces of the painting together, creating a beautiful landscape that is set before us, as we give Him all the praise and glory!