In "Other" Words...Finally!

“I turn to wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known.
My confidence will rest in You;
Your love endures; Your ways are good.
When I am weary with the cost,
I see the triumph of the cross;
So in its shadow I shall run
Till He completes the work begun.”

~ When Trials Come
by Keith and Kristyn Getty

I love the music of Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend.   Their music has ministered to me in so many ways in the last few years.  

I ran across this song recently when I was looking for a video of another Getty Music song.  These words struck me *so* sharply.   They so perfectly express my heart (on the good days….) and what God has been teaching me over the last few years.  

Wisdom ~ When we were catapulted into a situation the likes of which we never dreamed of experiencing, we realized one thing immediately…we did not have the wisdom we needed to make the decisions we needed to make and deal with the situations we were suddenly forced to deal with.  Combine the realization that you have NO idea what the right path is with the realization that *one* misstep on that path could spell disaster for your entire family…especially your children…and you learn to cling to God’s wisdom in a way you have never clung before.  What a huge comfort to know that He is not only the Source of All Wisdom, but He has a perfect plan already mapped out, and He is waiting for us to seek Him for direction.

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

~Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amplified)

 

Battle ~ During one of the deepest faith struggles of my life, I heard these words in three unrelated settings, “Nothing that comes into your life takes God by surprise.”   No matter what struggle, storm, or battle we are going through, He knows not only what we are going through *now*…He knows what is coming, and He knows how it will end.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

~Psalm 139:16

Rest ~ We have realized in a whole new way over the past few years that any confidence that we have in ourselves, in other people, in laws, in *anything* other than God is radically misplaced.  And yet, if our confidence *is* in Him, where it should be, we can have total rest in the midst of chaos.  There have been many times that my faith has faltered and I have *not* had rest….but when I have kept my eyes completely, desperately focused on Him, He does give sweet confident rest in the knowledge that He is at work, and what He is doing is for our best good. 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

 I will say  of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
       my God, in whom I trust."

~Psalm 91:1-2

Those last few lines…I need to hang those last few lines on my wall to read every day (several times!) 

“When I am weary with the cost,
I see the triumph of the cross;
So in its shadow I shall run
Till He completes the work begun.”

Along with these verses…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

~Hebrews 12:1-3

We know the end of the story!  We know that He has already won the victory.  We know that He has promised to finish the work He has begun in us.  What an encouragement, no matter WHAT our circumstances!

“…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

~Philippians 1: 6

Thank you for visiting In "Other" Words today!  It is always a privilege to be able to host.  We would love for you to share your thoughts on today's quote with us as well.  You can link up with us here.  (I posted Mr. Linky before I finished my own post, and was having trouble modifying that post without losing Mr. Linky in the process.  Hence the separate post. :))