Not What You Ordered

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. —Isaiah 41:10

Not long ago, Robert and I were invited to eat at an upscale restaurant. When our entrées arrived, they were served on plates covered with shiny domes. At precisely the same moment, the silver covers were lifted, revealing exactly what we had ordered.

The problem is, when it comes to real life, what’s on our plates is often something we didn’t order and might not even want. We’d prefer to choose what looks good and then have the server return, lift the silver dome, and—voilà!—exactly what we wanted. Occasionally that may be the case. But often it’s not. God’s divinely apportioned sovereignty is usually a surprise to us mortals.

Yet imagine the peace, comfort, and hope that would be ours if we really believed God knows and sees everything that lies before us—and that He has already provided whatever we will need when we get there! What freedom from fear, anxiety, and dread that should give us.