how I can fit through a doggie door and how God fits us in life

I noticed something when a gathering of average-sized people hung out at my place the other day. They didn’t fit. Never thought of my 700sq. ft. rental as small or considered that everything in my home is to scale before that day. When you’re 4’11” and less than 115lbs soaking wet, you just naturally look for homes, furniture, appliances, stuff… that fits.

You also look for places you can fit. Maybe this harks back to countless frenzied hide-and-seek games from childhood. But I think mostly it’s about doing something unique to me. Doing something that fits me. Thus, the doggie door pic. I couldn’t resist. And this got me thinking. We are always looking for where we fit in life. Do I fit with this person? Do I fit this ministry? Am I a good fit for this job? And we can draw great comfort and courage from these guiding principles of how God fits us in life.

God can fit us for what’s next even through unfavorable circumstances. Think Joseph in the OT. Being sold into slavery by your own brothers is pretty bad, folks. But what appears to be the worst possible defining moment of his life becomes the very circumstance that catapults him to incredible human success and usefulness to God.

Ruth walks into a strange land as a childless widow hanging on the arm of her childless, widowed, bitter mother-in-law. Beth’s commentary? Is no bueno for Ruth. And yet, in just a few chapters, she’s married to a wealthy, righteous man, with child, and fit into the line of Christ. Could not have predicted that one. And neither could Ruth.

God may fit us where we initially think we fit the least. Think Naaman’s little servant girl. Think Esther. Think Daniel. The newly converted Saul of Tarsus…Yeah, they didn’t really seem to fit in where God placed them. And yet, we look back and marvel at how they did.

God will fit us where it glorifies Him the most. God is most concerned for His glory. That’s His motive in all His works. He’s in it for His name’s sake. And to bring Him the greatest glory possible with our vapor-wisp lives is our deepest longing this side of Heaven. We can rest confident that God’s going to fit us where we can.

God will go with us wherever He fits us. When my congregation was asked to share their favorite promises a few weeks ago, I was not surprised this one was first: ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’ It should be. If I have God, I have joy that cannot be quenched. If I have God, I have strength for anything. If I have God, I have a peace that cannot be explained. If I have God, I have satisfaction. If I have God, I can endure, conquer, rest, be bold, love…I can do all and be all that I should through Him. In a way, God’s presence makes me a perfect fit wherever I find myself.

God will fit us according to our desires and personality. The One who knows our past, body, thoughts, movements, and loves is the One who is ordering our steps. He has promised to bring delight to me through that ordering, and to grant the desires of my heart as I delight in Him. There is no other way to parse those promises. The God who has full knowledge of me, uses that to work all things together for me. In other words, His intimate acquaintance with who I am guides God’s actions towards me. He will not call me to serve Him in accounting (which I strongly dislike and abhor and have no skill in), when I love to worship Him through writing and music. He’ll probably never call me to minister in a village of introverts. I would hurt them. You get the point.

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So, assuming God has more important things to fit us for than going through doggie doors, take heart. He is the God who fits.  And He is ours.

Beth

three anchors for hard times

We just want security.

Something or someone to turn to when life spooks and won't be saddled or led about anymore. Someone who will always be there unchanging and expected when life is not. Some safety net to catch the free fall.

You see, I left my job last week. A move as necessary and right as it was difficult and unexpected. You're just going to have to take that at face value. And this is how I found myself thinking after that.

I just want security. A few grand in the bank would do the trick. The assurance that no one need help me. The confidence that I can maintain the quality of my current lifestyle. The security of knowing nothing more needs to change right now. I just want security. A knowledge of what's next would be enough. To know what's on the other side of this 'in-between' time. A move? A new career? A person? More of the same? I can weather anything if I know what's next. I just want security, folks. A spouse would do just fine. Someone 'for me' no matter what happens. Someone to speak truth into my life when I'm at home in the quiet evening hours. Someone whose love and support were embodied in a...um...I don't know, a body? And words of commitment, compassion, and confidence whispered gentle when the world stops speaking that way. 

And we just want something to hold onto.

But as wonderful as those would be, they are not that secure. Riches are uncertain. The future is always shifting. No person is strong enough to hold the weight of my life. God knew that before I reached that conclusion a few days ago. And He led me to His Word instead. You see, there’s nothing more secure than the mind of God towards me. So here’s what I’ve been clinging to the last week. Three passages. Three anchors. Security for all my insecure.

The Love of God

At the end of Romans 8, Paul asks this question: What can separate us from the love of God? (yes, I mentioned this last week.) And then he lists all these things that do separate us. From each other. From stuff in this world. From life. He concludes, “but none of these things can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Security. An anchor in the storm. My Saviour’s love for me is a “tie that naught can sever.”

The knowledge of His will

In Colossians 1 Paul prays that the believers “be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing…” I may not have a knowledge of what’s next but I can have a knowledge of what’s now. To know how to walk this ‘in-between’ in a worthy way that will bring Him pleasure. He will give me light to do what pleases Him today. All I need do is ask. That’s what Paul is doing. And that’s security, folks. A present and perfect anchor.

The sovereign hand of God

David constructs the first half of Psalm 37 in a fascinating way. We find God mowing down and cutting off the workers of iniquity and evil schemers. We find Him feeding His people, granting their desires, and enabling them to move forward on their way. We find a justice and a care that works outside human possibility. And sandwiched in the middle, we find this command: Rest, wait patiently, and do not fret. Why? Because God’s got this, folks. He works justice when we cannot. He provides for us what we cannot. He’s sovereignly at work for our benefit. And I can rest in that and patiently wait for it to come about. And it will. It’s the mind of my God toward me.

There is no anchor more secure.

Beth

this I know

Here’s a bit of very bad poetry for you, friends. But it is an accurate reflection of what God has been teaching me this week, and it kept clamoring to come out in rhyme and meter.

 So I gave in. Que sera, sera. Be merciful.

This week I had to make a big decision quickly and unexpectedly. And I found myself frustrated with God that He would put me in that position without a thorough understanding of why. Especially when the decision appeared to be unfavorable for me. And that’s when He reminded me that, well, that’s exactly what faith is. 

What I know about my God and my relationship with Him is more than enough to support the questions that are not yet answered. Abraham believed this about God. And so can I. Despite how things appear. 

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I do not know how faith can look

Like the closing of a well-loved book

A sudden end to familiar joys,

A snuffing of a current hope.

But while I live, I do know this:

My Lord is mine and I am His.

I do not know how faith can sound

Like a shaking voice over flooding ground

A surging change beneath my feet

A wave of fearful strength and loud.

But this I know while life shall last:

I cling to Christ, and He holds me fast.

I do not know how faith can taste

Like a bitter sop pressed to my face

A drink that I would never choose,

A paradox of sovereign grace.

But this I know and am secure:

My love is His, and His love endures.

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And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Rom. 8:28, 38-39

Beth