“If you’re in the middle of circumstances that make you wonder what in the world is going on, be encouraged by that. . . . You are traveling the path between point A and point B that doesn’t look anything like a straight line from geometry class, but looks very much like the zigzag journey of God’s people.”- Chip Ingram
“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”- Psalm 138:8 (ESV)
In Chapter 3 (“The Power of Purpose”) of I Choose Joy, Chip Ingram notes that in the economy of God’s kingdom — -where you are and where He’s taking you — is very often a zigzag. Not a straight line. Therefore, Chip concludes, we shouldn’t be surprised at the presence of obstacles when trying to get from point A to point B. Furthermore, those detours and struggles appear to slow things down. Or take us in unexpected directions.
Certainly, Paul’s path from calling to completion of his mission zigzagged. And it wasn’t an easy one. Yet, even though Paul’s mission looked relatively fruitless from a human standpoint, from God’s perspective it represented a major strategic advance. Hence, Paul’s zigzag journey turned out to be one of God’s straight lines between calling and completion.
In conclusion, Chip exhorts:
“You can choose joy even in the midst of a disorienting journey because God is using it. Even if He didn’t orchestrate it — even if it’s the consequences of your own mistakes or ungodly things people have done to you — He knew about it ahead of time, took it into account, and is accomplishing His purposes through it. . . .
Don’t be surprised if your path isn’t linear. In fact, you should be surprised if it is. God almost always incorporates zigzags into His plans. It’s just the way He works.”
Today’s question: Describe a zigzag journey during your walk with God. Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The ups and downs in life”