It never ceases to amaze me how a person can read the same bible for years, and one day experience a moment of sheer revelation, when the words of a familiar verse seem to leap off the page with new meaning, shedding light on some new spiritual truth just when its needed most. I guess that’s why its called the “living” Word of God, and what a treasure it is! I had one of those moments recently that is still echoing in my mind.
Our women’s bible study group had been studying the book of Esther, using a guide written by Beth Moore, aptly titled “Esther: Its Tough Being a Woman.” During each week of the study, in addition to delving into Esther’s story, we discussed a way in which it’s difficult to be a woman, referred to as a “scenario.” If any of us thought we were in for a pity party, we were wrong. As the study drew to a close, each of our scenarios was answered with a “flip-side” in scripture. In every case, the scripture verse or verses turned the scenario on its head, making it plain that it is we, women, who make being a woman “tough,” and providing the antidote in the simple command to TRUST. Trust, we learned, is the key that turns “the detours of adversity into highways of destiny.”
The scenario we were studying that day went like this: “Its tough being a woman who feels responsible for the HOW.” To any man reading this, that may sound strange, but I think every woman can instantly relate. How are we going to do all we need to do in 24 hours? How can this problem be solved? How is that situation going to work out? Those questions don’t just ring in our ears, they demand answers. We’re so accustomed to our self-appointed role of responsibility, especially when it comes to our families, we don’t even give it a second thought. After all, if anyone is going to figure out how, its going to have to be us! The biblical truth though, is that our daily struggle to “figure it out” amounts to nothing more than a great unnecessary weight on our shoulders.
Two bible verses were given to point the way to the truth: 2 Peter 2:9 and Psalm 103:14. Both begin with the same four words: The…Lord…Knows…How. “The Lord KNOWS how to rescue godly men from trials” says Peter. “The Lord KNOWS how we were formed, and remembers that we are dust” sings David. Its okay that I don’t know how its all going to work out. Praise the Lord, God KNOWS! Look deeper and the truth of those words gets even richer. Because He “knows how we were formed” he knows our needs better than we do. Because he “remembers that we are dust” he doesn’t expect us to have perfect Godly wisdom. According to Peter, not only does he know “how to rescue the godly,” but he also “knows how…to hold the unrighteous for punishment until the day of judgment,” so we need not be concerned with the wrongdoings of others. I can't tell you feeling of relief it brings every time I think of those precious words, "The Lord knows how." Maybe its because freedom from that responsibility brings the freedom to embrace the joy we were made for.
As I ponder on what it means to trust God with the hows of life, I find myself coming back once again to Jesus’ command that we become “like little children.” I’m blessed to have two beautiful examples in my home of exactly what little children are like. I can tell you that they don’t think a lot about the hows of life—they just tell Momma or Daddy what they need. Last night one of my little ones came to me in the night with tear filled eyes, and said “Momma, my ear hurts.” He didn’t know how I was going to make it better, but he trusted that somehow I would. He didn’t tell me he needed two teaspoons of ibuprofen, a warm towel, and a call to the doctor in the morning. He simply said “it hurts.”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if we returned to that point of simplicity in our relationships with God? It is a simplicity that calls for merely articulating our simple need, without eloquence or rehashing the all painful details, (the Lord knows them after all) and then thanking God that he can take it from there. Sure, we will still have work to do, but we trust that through the gift of his holy spirit, we will have both the strength to do our part and the wisdom to know what it is. When we look back, we'll be amazed at how Daddy made it all better. What loving parent would do any less?
