Everything Just Fell Into Place

 "Everything just fell into place.  We just knew it was God."  I know I have thought this and probably even said it, but those words are like nails on a chalkboard to me now.  What is the modern equivalent to nails on a chalkboard?  A person playing the violin for the first time?  That does not quite capture it.  At least there is purpose in the violin.  Anyway, back to my original thought.  Feel free to comment if you have any ideas on a new "nails on a chalkboard" phrase. 

There are at least two reasons why I cringe when I hear those words.  The first, if you will allow me to be blunt for a minute, is when I hear someone say that it is often a stupid decision and the person is avoiding the work of a little critical thinking.  It then gives them the opportunity to blame God instead of taking responsibility for their own choices.  I was going to put an example here, but I just want to step on feet, not toes.  As I said earlier, I have said these words too.

The second reason I cringe, and where I will focus more of my attention, is it is not theologically or biblically accurate.  You can not always trust the circumstances.  Doesn't God lead us?  Yes, but the path is rarely one of ease and comfort.  Let's apply the phrase to some well-known stories in the Bible.  Noah would have said, "I woke up, walked outside and there was a giant boat.  People around me did not all understand but they said 'Noah, you do you.'  The animals did not smell, and the weatherman said it was going to be a light rain that lasted four days.  The bird found dry land on its first try.  Everything just fell into place. We knew it was God."  That is not how it went down.  He had to gather the wood, build the boat, gather the animals (with some divine help), supplies, deal with insults and threats, he did not know when the storm would stop, or how long he would be on the boat.  In the moment it seemed like a mess of circumstances.  However, Noah believed what God said not the circumstances.

What about Moses?  He had a clear word from God in a burning bush.  Moses grew up in Pharoah's house.  He goes to his adopted grandfather and says 'Pops, I know you were worried about these Hebrews getting too strong and taking your land over.  Well you see, God promised some land to my biological family and Egypt is not the place.  If you will just let them go they will leave and never come back.  What do you say?'  Then the Pharoah lets the Hebrews go and they walk for a couple of days to the promised land and all the people living there would just pack up and leave.  The Hebrews would just walk in, set up a new life, worship God faithfully, and live happily ever after.  Moses would tell his grandkids about how everything just fell in place and we knew it was God.  Instead, Moses had a burning bush experience, had to risk his life talking to Pharoah, make a lot of mistakes along the way, take the long way through the desert, and never get to enter the promised land.  

I go on and on with David being crowned King, the disciples of Jesus, Paul, and more.  Jesus did not promise us a life of ease.  Instead, He is the Prince of Peace.  Jesus did not promise us a life of comfort, He promised a Comforter.  He said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NIV).  

How do we respond?  Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (NKJV)  In the moment we often will not understand the path that God is leading us on.  It is often when we get to the other side and look back we can see how "Everything worked out the way it should have.  I can see how God was working through it all."  Trust in God and not the circumstances.