We were hopelessly motoring around Custer State Park in South Dakota.  It had already been a long day when we finally realized that we were lost.   The park was a vast expanse – roughly 10 miles wide by 10 miles deep and our campsite was playing hide and seek with us. 

In the spirit of General Custer, I was ready to make my last stand.  So, I suddenly pulled the car up next to a construction crew and strongly exhorted my wife to ask for directions.   I wasn’t going to do it of course.

She was quite flustered, and it showed, but she stuck her head out the window and said, “Uh, we want to go camping!”  (Hmm an interesting way to ask for directions!)

Well, the man leaned back on his shovel and pondered his answer.  He said, “O really?”   Awkward!  She was embarrassed and the rest of us were entertained.

We didn’t know where we were headed.  Some of us experience that kind of confusion in the spiritual realm.

We believe that God is sovereign, and has a plan for our lives, but what we experience day-to-day doesn’t always make sense to us. 

There have been the good times which we have counted as blessings.  But there have also been some hard times sandwiched in between.  There have been seasons of plenty, but also seasons of want. 

There was that job that opened just when it was needed but it ended up in a lay off just 5 years later.  There were spans of time when the nearness of God was incredible, and other times when He seemed to be absent.

It makes us wonder, ”Lord, where are you taking me?  Help me to understand!”

Paul answered that question in Romans 8:28-29.  He wrote, “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…”  NETBible ®

Many of us have verse 28 memorized.  It’s of priceless encouragement, but it’s verse 29 that we need to consider here.  It says that “he also predestined (us) to be conformed to the image of his Son.”

The word “predestined” tells us that God’s plan for us reaches back to before we were ever born.  The word “conform” tells us that we are still an imperfect work in the process of development. 

This is His roadmap for us– a plan to conform us to the likeness of His most wonderful Son, so that we reflect His character, and operate by His ethics.  It is to value what He values, and to disdain what He rejects. The result is what the Scripture refers to as “godliness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)

It is a work that God started the day we were saved and will continue till we meet Jesus face-to-face.  Paul put it this way, “For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” –  Philippians 1:6.

In the meantime, He uses the multifaceted experiences of life to mold and make us; to sharpen us and shape us so that we resemble Jesus more today than we did yesterday.   Our character is like clay in the supple hands of The Potter. 

So, know that the issues that you face, even today are being used by God to fulfill His plan for you.

I once sat in my office with a married couple who disagreed with a pastoral decision that I had made.  She went for my jugular when she said, “We thought this church had a “godly” pastor!”   That deeply wounded me!  Fortunately, most did not share her opinion. 

But, the opinion I value the best and the character I covet the most – is that of my Savior and I am so glad He is busy producing godliness in me.

A PRAYER: Have your way in my life Lord.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture references are from the NETBible.com