I was skimming through some of my favorites on Tumblr and I came across this post by Aaron Gillespie. I don’t think I could say it any better myself, so i’m just going to quote him:
We look at our lives so often and wonder what we can do to fix them? Why do I feel this way? Why is it taking so long for my heart to heal? How come my ship hasn’t come in?
Recently I was reading and stumbled across this verse, I never realized it was there and I am happy I found it.
Consider what God has done:
Who can straighten
what he has made crooked? (Ecclesiastes 7:13 NIV)
We are made the way we are supposed to be made. We go through the things we go through for a reason. Sometimes things make no sense, sometimes they hurt, but I believe with all that I am that God has a plan and a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11) and we need to try as hard as we may to stick to that.Be blessed,
Aaron
. . .
it got me thinking – i’m always looking for a way to straighten my path. to fix something, to mend it, to make it beautiful again. but whose definition of beautiful am I seeking? whose definition of healing am I measuring up to? my path is not meant to be straight, and neither is yours. what is the verse in Matthew that talks about this?
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” -Matthew 7:13-14
did you catch that? and the way is hard that leads to life – that leaves no room for interpretation.
i’m not promised rainbows, unicorns, and candy filled paths to happiness.
no.
i’m promised persecution, hardships, frustration, and selflessness.
I am also promised joy, fulfillment, sanctification, and an eternity with Jesus – if I accept Him.
my ship hasn’t come because God has designed it that way.
whatever your ship may be – God has a plan.
and I know we hear that all the time – and it gets old and frustrating and we think others can’t possibly relate to our hardships…but community is real.
my ship is docked somewhere – I just have to wait for God’s timing.
& my path – it’s crooked.
it’s dirty; filled with pot-holes and roots ready to twist your ankles.
it’s a struggle.
it’s filled with uncertainty.
it requires me to take steps of faith.
to trust in God’s timing – not my own.
it is filled with encouragement and reassurance from other believers.
we’re in this together.
so let me remind you:
Consider what God has done:
Who can straighten
what he has made crooked? (Ecclesiastes 7:13 NIV)
your path doesn’t have to be straight – and you don’t have to have an answer right now.
repeat that…you don’t have to have an answer right now.
I want one. oh my gosh I want my answer.
but I don’t have to have it – I can be patient.
I have never heard that verse before, but I love it! I am so guilty of trying to straighten things out in my life. This is a verse to remember- thank you!
XOXO
Chelsea
http://www.anchorsaweighblog.com=
I love this post, sometimes we need to read things like this to remind ourselves that life isn't meant to be perfect. Thanks for sharing!
xxx
Jaclyn
http://www.loveandbellinis.com
AMEN! I have never stopped to think about that verse, but it is so good!
This quote by John Piper is one that I took pieces of and printed out a thing to hang on my wall:
"Here's what I would suggest as the main lesson: The life of the godly is not a straight line to glory, but they do get there. The life of the godly is not an Interstate through Nebraska, but a state road through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee. There are rock slides and precipices and dark mists and bears and slippery curves and hairpin turns that make you go backwards in order to go forwards. But all along this hazardous, twisted road that doesn't let you see very far ahead there are frequent signs that say, "The best is yet to come." And at the bottom right corner written with an unmistakable hand are the words, "As I live, says the Lord!"
The book of Ruth is one of those signs for you to read. It was written and it has been preached to give you some midsummer encouragement and hope that all the perplexing turns in your life lately are not dead-end streets. In all the setbacks of your life as a believer God is plotting for your joy."
It's from that series on the book of Ruth that he did. 🙂 Happy Friday! We have so much trusting todo and the One MOST worthy of our trust to give it to,
This post gives me so much hope. My entire life is full of twists and turns and to say I come from a crooked past is the understatement of the year. Letting things go and realizing that things will happen as they may has helped me (especially in the anxiety department) TREMENDOUSLY. Sometimes I forget this but reading this post was a huge reminder that I seriously needed. Thank you.
Yes, those crooked paths that all have meaning & purpose, but don't we wish {& pray} we could straighten em out, like taking the edge of a skinny carpet & shaking it back in place or unfurling a snazzy red carpet… I know I have felt this way, but I'm working on it, & you know what, I think I'm learning & growing! {crazy touchdown dance} It doesn't mean I've arrived or that I won't forget it & have to relearn it again, but I can see progress – it's taken years – & I mean, years – but I can see it, even now as I traverse *imperfectly* this crooked path. Reminds me of a lyric from a JJ Heller song {"Your Hands"}, "Make straight the paths that crooked lie, O Lord, before these feet of mine." Perhaps it would be wise to add, 'but if not, & either way, make my heart go straight to Thee.'
Love ya!
-Bess-
bessbagblog@yahoo.com
This is absolutely beautiful, dear girl!
This post is perfection, my friend. Honesty, a gorgeous photo (sidenote: I so want to hike/go there!), and even more beautiful + truthful words. 🙂
I actually just finished reading through Ecclesiastes a week ago and when I read that verse, I didn't interpret it the way you described–but I so love that interpretation and think it's spot on. We cannot change God's plans for us and it's true that our lives aren't perfect and that there will be hard times in life. But like you said, we've got to trust in His plans and lean on His love for us.
You, my friend, are one amaaaaazing blogger friend. Loved this post and looking forward to next week's edition!
It is so hard to trust God in times of hardship – I know I definitely struggle!
Thanks for sharing these verses I am going to pray through these over the next week and see if this can help me feel a bit stronger in trusting him and knowing he is there for me even when I think nothing is going to improve.
x
Aaaaaaamen! Such truth in this post! It's hard to trust the path that is crooked–even though we are promised it will get us to where we are going. 🙂
how have i not commented on this yet?? i know i read it becuase i loved it. oh well, now i'm back! this was so good and much needed reminder. thanks for helping me focus my perspective.
"my ship hasn't come because God has designed it that way.
whatever your ship may be – God has a plan."
love.