092607

September 26, 2007

Goals and God's Sovereignty

by Shana Schutte

My grandmother, who is a quilter, has a favorite saying: "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have." Not only is this a saying for Grandma, it's a doing--it's something she puts into practice. When she creates a quilt and doesn't have a supply she needs, she often finds a way around the obstacle to finish her project--perhaps by using another type of fabric or rearranging her design.

Because my grandmother is hopeful, she is able to press past problems that stand in her way. Can you imagine what little she would accomplish if she didn't believe she could find a solution? You got it. Every time she encountered a difficulty, she'd throw up her hands in frustration. But she doesn't--because she believes there is an answer to be discovered.

You might be thinking, Yeah, I agree; but life isn't that easy because some of the things I need to reach my goal are more complicated than fabric and thread.

Yes, that's true. And sometimes what we need to reach our goal is even being held hostage by another person.

For example, you might want to improve your marital relationship, but your spouse is unwilling to go to counseling; or you desperately want to be promoted to manager, but your boss has given you the brush off; or you have a business project you'd like to get off the ground, but someone is withholding your financing.

When it seems like another person holds the cards that can make or break our goal, we can feel hopeless. What's the answer? We need to get our eyes off people and onto God--because with Him there is always an answer to be discovered.

Psalm 121:1 says, "I lift my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Isn't it encouraging to know that our help ultimately comes from God, not from man? That He has the final say and is sovereign in all the details of our lives, including those involving our goals? Isn't it refreshing to remember that if someone is withholding what we need to reach our goal, that He always has "another piece of fabric," to get the job done--just like he does for Grandma?

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Psalm 118:6 (NIV).

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