Streams in the Desert - Jul 06

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. (2 Chronicles 20: 12)

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An Israelite named Uzzah lost his life because he “reached out and took hold of the ark of God” (2 Sam. 6: 6). He placed his hands on it with the best of intentions— to steady it, “because the oxen stumbled” (2 Sam. 6: 6)— but nevertheless, he had overstepped his bounds by touching the Lord’s work, and “therefore God struck him down” (2 Sam. 6: 7). Living a life of faith often requires us to leave things alone.

If we have completely entrusted something to God, we must keep our hands off it. He can guard it better than we can, and He does not need our help. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” (Ps. 37: 7).

Things in our lives may seem to be going all wrong, but God knows our circumstances better than we do. And He will work at the perfect moment, if we will completely trust Him to work in His own way and in His own time. Often there is nothing as godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will.
~A. B. Simpson

Being perplexed, I say,
“Lord, make it right!
Night is as day to You,
Darkness as light.
I am afraid to touch
Things that involve so much;
My trembling hand may shake,
My skilless hand may break;
Yours can make no mistake.”
Being in doubt I say,
“Lord, make it plain;
Which is the true, safe way?
Which would be gain?
I am not wise to know,
Nor sure of foot to go;
What is so clear to Thee,
Lord, make it clear to me!”

It is such a comfort to drop the entanglements and perplexities of life into God’s hands and leave them there.

Reference

Cowman, L. B. E.; Reimann, Jim. Streams in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings (p. 260). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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