His ways are NOT our ways...

I was just wondering about the processes that God allows us to go through to become "More like Him." He easily could prevent every hardship in our lives if He wanted to. The fact that He chooses not to is important in His perfect plans for us... His plans "to prosper us and not to harm us." We can grow closer to Him (and ultimately more like Him) by understanding His reasons for allowing our trials and tribulations.

One story that I want to share with you happened to me over the summer. Things were NOT going the way I had planned. A job that I had really enjoyed had ended suddenly, my children and I were going through custody and access struggles with my husband's ex-girlfriend, finances were being stretched, bills were piling up, and I still had to take a trip across B.C. to go pick up one of my daughters at our Grandparent's Cabin.

On the way, our vehicle started to act up. It is a long and winding story, but suffice it to say, that the cost of the repair was going to be more than the car was worth... So, basically we were now tired, broke and without transportation! Fortunately, God got us where we were heading, thanks to several "God-incidences" and a Greyhound bus, but we also found out shortly after that the place was 15 km away from a forest fire!! (see July's "Summer's Journey - Through the Fire "Blog for that story) .

Anyway, we had been out at the cabin for several days, when everything that was happening started to hit me hard. I was in "pity-party heaven." Oh, whoa is me... I was so hard done by and nothing was going right... blah... blah... blah... Cry... Cry... Cry.... etc. etc. etc. The sky had been sunny, but then the clouds were sure starting to roll in bringing on the rain. It was the type of sky that you could still see some sunny patches, but the rain was coming down. It was the type of sky that usually brought rainbows... BUT this time, there wasn't even a rainbow.

I actually started to complain to God that at LEAST in the midst of everything I was going through, He could have given me a rainbow, give me some promise of good in the midst of everything that was going wrong... BUT THE RAINBOW WASN'T THERE....

Can you just picture Him shaking His head and chuckling. I wonder what He thinks about when He sees his kids going through this type of whimpering. Here we have an Almighty, All Loving, All Powerful God, Sovereign God, but we still think we know better than He does.

I had cried well into the night, and was still in "a mood" the next day and the weather was about the same as well... still raining. Things in my life hadn't changed, but this time, when I went out onto the patio, He greeted me with not one, but TWO Rainbows! It was beautiful! And then I remembered my whining from the day before.... I could almost see His eyes twinkling as He looked upon me with just a touch of mischief in His eyes. "Surprise!"

When I listened closely in the midst of that incredible view, I recognized His voice... "Yes, child... My promises are always true." I may not know all that God purposes for my life when I go through these trials, but I have to believe in Him and remember, 1) God is Always Good, and 2) I can Always Trust Him... because I've come to know this is the Character of God.... He Loves me, and I know that anything I go through will ALWAYS be a part of His perfect plan....