From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

Many people are familiar with the saying "let go and let God." I'd like to extend that a bit – so when you eventually do "let go and let God," you also need to, "let God be God"!

Sometimes when we bring our circumstances to God in prayer, especially those extreme circumstances, we not only outline the case to Him, we often frame up the answer we want Him to give! Don't inadvertently set up in your mind what you want God to do in response to your plea – you limit God by the smallness of your vision. This is a great, big, powerful, "thinking outside the box" God that we serve. He knows what He's doing...so let God be God!

When you lose a job or don't get the one you want, don't dismay – keep pressing in. There may be someone in that pipeline that is going to know someone who knows someone and God is directing all the work that is going on behind the scenes to eventually land you an even better job through people you didn't even know! And none of this would have happened had you not been fired, or as is often the case, you hang in limbo a while, forced by the circumstances to have nothing except God!

Aw, poor baby...only God is left! Most of us have been there, done that and will go through it again before finishing our journey on this earth. All of that has the underlying treasured result of being built up in faith and trust in God. That, of course, is more important than just the remedy to your dilemma. There is a plan and if you want the best spiritual result, give it up and let it be His plan and not yours.

No problem praying specifically, no problem reminding God of which way you want a circumstance to go...just be open to a different route for God to orchestrate. If you do, it will be an answer that will not only take care of you and yours but also carve out God's much broader spiritual direction. God is really good at being God...and you’re not! So let God be God. Endure the fire...it's producing pure gold!

---