People are created by God to live more productively when motivated
by purpose. The Bible repeatedly speaks of God’s purpose for people; sometimes
for humanity, for nations, for marriage, for families, for individuals, for the
Church, and even for Jesus’ coming to earth. God’s purposes are comprehensive, and
they can stretch our thoughts and faith due to our inability to discern or
accept His purposes in the complexities of life. Sometimes His purpose is
clear, and sometimes not. At times we like His purpose, while other times we
don’t. Our values and priorities are often challenged by God’s purposes,
especially when we struggle to align with them.
For the Christian, God’s purposes are multifaceted, with His
glory ranking highest (Ephesians 1:12). Paul reminded Timothy that it was God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because
of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in
Christ Jesus before the ages began (2 Timothy 1:9). Our salvation is
foremost about God! Yes, we enjoy many present and eternal blessings from
salvation, but God’s glory through Jesus is to tower above all else. Incredibly, God’s purposeful and persevering
grace for us was mapped out before even time existed (cf. Ephesians 2:10).
David, from within the messiness of his life, acknowledged that it is God who fulfills his purpose for me (Psalm
57:2).
Job, whose suffering was extreme, was never told the reasons
for God putting Him through all that. Yet, Job kept faith in God while he
voiced his pain, his frustration, and even his hatred of his own life during
the suffering. Job’s testimony of God is worth noting. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your
care has preserved my spirit. Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know
that this was your purpose (Job 10:12-13). Job never did understand
“why.” And He realised that God had deliberately withheld that information from
him. But He did know that it was only God who preserved him, and despite the
pain, preservation of his life was an expression of the Almighty’s love.
Like Job, Moses also understood that the secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the
things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may
do all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29). These men accepted
their responsibility to live according to what is known and understood, and not
according to the unknown or unattainable. Like Job and Moses, we are confronted
with things in our lives which God simply does not give us the understanding we
would like. However, God’s grace does give us the ability to accept what is,
and to believe that God knows, and that God has purpose for what is.
This can be a massive faith mountain to climb. Acceptance of
God’s will and purposes in the disturbing matters of life, especially those
issues we don’t understand, requires humility and patience which grows out of
faith. It helps to remember that foundational to our ability to accept, is that
it was God who predestined us for adoption to
himself as sons (and daughters) through
Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will (Ephesians 1:5). It’s
comforting to know that our lack of understanding does not separate us from
God’s love, from His family (the church), or from His purpose for us to give
expression to His glory from within the messiness of our lives. May the Holy
Spirit enable this acceptance in each of us for His glory and our blessing.
