“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” Psalm 84:10

Devotion

Ever since I was a kid, I have always loved watching movies—at the theater, at home with my dad, on a mini-DVD player in the back of my mom’s car. If there was a way to watch a movie, I was all about it. At some point in almost every movie, you have the battle between good and evil, and I always thought, at some point, I too would have an epic quest or a moment where I would have to pick between good and evil.

But the further along I get in life, the more I think the choices we face are often not so clearly good or evil, but rather a more subtle “Am I doing things my way, or will I submit to God’s ways and plans?”

When I started following Jesus more closely, I quickly realized I couldn’t pursue my plan and God’s plan, but I really did want to do both. I sat in the tension of what I wanted and what I felt like God was calling me to. It felt like the more God was calling me to surrender control, the tighter I held on to the things in my life I thought I had control over. I couldn’t figure out why I was having such a hard time surrendering these things, and then it finally clicked: I wasn’t surrendering to God because I didn’t trust him.

If we are honest, trusting God is scary. It can be so hard to surrender our desires to his will. But, in the moments we feel that tension, we MUST remind ourselves of who God is and of his character. When we know God is good (Psalm 100:5) and kind (Psalm 145:17), he loves his kids (1 John 4:10), and he does not change (James 1:17), we can trust that even though we don’t know what he is doing, he is always doing more than we think.

The great king and psalmist, David, had so much uncertainty in his life and was well acquainted with being unsure of God’s plan, but he writes in Psalms 84:10, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” In Psalm 16:10, he states, “In your presence, there is fullness of joy.” David knew early on something that took me years to understand: being in relationship with God is far better than knowing all of the answers. David knew there is more joy in living in relationship with God than we could ever get from our own plans working out.

We do not find joy in fumbling through our plan, but in submitting our plans to God's way—resting in the truth of his goodness, his kindness, his sovereignty and the assurance he is always doing more than we think.

May we be reminded that God alone brings joy and satisfaction; living in the unknown of God’s plan is the safest place to be.

PRAYER

God, you are good. You are kind. You are sovereign. And you, in your infinite wisdom, are more than able to navigate any situation in my life far better than I ever could with my human wisdom. When it seems hard to trust you, remind me of who you are and who you say I am. Thank you for being a God who is in control and who is always, doing more than I think. Amen.

Paige Adams
Pastor, Students High School - OKC

Resources:

Listen to What a God by SEC Worship.

Explore other devotions like this one any time at crossings.church/devotions .