“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgements and how inscrutable His ways!” Romans 11:33

Different

I’ve recently watched the series “The Chosen” on the life of Jesus. In fact I’m watching it for a second time—picking up on many details I missed the first time. I’ve loved it and have found it very life-giving. There is a scene where Simon Peter is questioning something Jesus is doing because it’s “different.” Jesus responds to him by saying “get used to different!”

As I’ve thought about it, I’ve realized that statement sums up our walk with the Lord. SO many things are different! We can’t live a normal, ordinary life if we’re walking in relationship and intimacy with Him. Just about everything is “different” when our hearts and lives are surrendered to Him.

For the most part, we probably don’t want to get used to different. It’s more secure, more comfortable for things to stay the same. Different means change, adjustment, sometimes doing things we don’t like. Different can mean losing control—turning over control at a deeper level to the Lord. Different may mean giving up things we like and enjoy. Different may not feel good—it can even be painful. Different can certainly present challenges in our life and in our character. Different is, well, DIFFERENT!

I don’t always like different. I’m a creature of habit. I like routine. I like to know what’s going to happen and when. Marrying my dear husband and following him all over the world has been a life full of “different.” I guess you could say I’ve had to get used to it.

The last few years on our unexpected journey has been chock-a-block full of different. After almost 49 years of married life, I found myself suddenly living as a single person. My husband’s life was hanging by a thread…and mine was right beside him as I’ve battled cancer.  I’ve faced huge daily decisions for months on end without my best friend who I had always counseled with for decisions. There was not only our personal lives to figure out how to go forward, but also the All Nations ministry that we had led.  Different, different, different. I’ve frequently been asked how I’d describe the last few years. It’s hard to sum it up in a word or two, but different would certainly be a word at the top of my list.

And yet, as the months have gone by, I have enough perspective that I can now look back and say “different is okay.” I have had times of loneliness, but I’ve never felt alone! God has been so close, so real, so always present!  I have come to walk in a new, deep level of trust in the Lord that I don’t know how I could have learned otherwise. I have seen God be my husband in Floyd’s absence in sweet and precious ways. As I’ve ridden the “roller coaster” I’ve felt God holding my hand and assuring me that He’s watching over me.

We are all living through an incredibly different season right now. It’s off the charts different!  But God is with us each moment of each day. He will help and guide us through this unprecedented tim.  He will never leave us or forsake us. He will give us the strength and grace we need to face each challenge. He is faithful!

Lord, when You are leading us through different experiences, we know it is Your best for us. We don’t know what’s ahead, but we know You are with us.