Sunday, February 15, 2015

trusting Him, resting in the mystery...


Mystery, it's right there in the opening lines of this beautiful hymn by Hillsong United, Oceans...

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the
mystery

Ephesians 1:9 (NKJV)--having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself...

Your sovereign hand will be my guide...He knows the end from the beginning...

Isaiah 46:9-10 (NKJV)--Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure...

Psalm 40:1-3 The Message--
I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.

My soul will rest in Your embrace

Matthew 11:28-30...
Amplified
:  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will rest you, I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. 
Phillips: Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest! Put on my yoke and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
The Message: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

My daily relationship with our living Lord Jesus reinforces my belief in the sovereignty of God, that nothing comes into my life that is not filtered through God's hands of love. I believe there are no “accidents.”  I believe that God sees the end from the beginning. He knows me intimately, He knit me together in my mother's womb, one day I will see Him face-to-face and I will know as I am known. It is His plan that’s important, not my desire. I didn't bring myself into this world, and I can’t take myself into heaven. I really don’t know what is best for me or for those I love. I ask God to make me sensitive to the reality that He is in control, and that He is using this--even this--to conform me to the image of His Son. I want that most of all. I train my mind to acknowledge God’s hand in whatever it is I'm living with. I practice words like, “I don’t know,” “I will trust,” “I can’t explain,” “I release it all,” because God is sovereign. He is the beginning, He will be the ending, and in between, by His grace, He lets us be part of His perfect plan, for His glory and for our good. In the meantime, I am trusting Him, resting in the mystery...

Was this encouraging to you? Please feel free to leave a comment in the box below, I'd love to hear from you!

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50 comments:

  1. Beth I think we are at similar places in our journey as what you have written here echoes the prayers of my heart, also.
    I have been asking Him why I find it hard to trust him with one son. I release him, then must do many practical things for him as he has a head injury..... Like you, I train my mind to acknowledge God’s hand in whatever it is I'm living with...... I practice words like, “I don’t know,” “I will trust,” “I can’t explain,” “I release it all,” because God is sovereign. He is the beginning, He will be the ending, and in between, by His grace, He lets us be part of His perfect plan, for His glory and for our good...... I'm just not up to the part about resting in the mystery :( Pray I will get to where you've got too please dear Beth. xxxx


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    1. Oh sweet Mary, Jesus knows our hearts, as we keep our eyes on Him, the things of earth grow strangely dim...praying for the Spirit of Christ Who dwells in the innermost part of me to take authority over my soul--the seat of my emotions, and my body--my fleshly desires and appetites...praying this for you, too ❤️

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  2. Our mystery is His knowing and His plan. We are truly blessed to have God Who is in control and if we will only give Him the reins, He will take us into His will. This post with the many Scriptures has encouraged me this day.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

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    1. Linda, thank you so much from stopping by and leaving this encouraging comment...many blessings to you :)

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  3. Dear Beth,
    This post spoke to my heart today, as He has been showing me the need to trust in His infinite love and perfect plan, even when it is still a mystery. My post this week is about this -- hope you'll visit!
    God bless,
    Laurie Collett
    http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/

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    1. Laurie, thank you for leaving such an encouraging comment! I look forward to reading your post today ❤️

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  4. Sometimes I love just releasing myself into that mystery and trusting God is bigger than my mind can imagine. Other times it's hard to let go into that unknown. Love that we don't have to know all the answers, just "rest in the mystery"

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    1. Amen, Kathryn, I so agree with you...truly all is grace ❤️

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  5. Beautiful words reminding me of who God is and how I can completely trust Him in every mystery of my life. Yes, His hand is at work and so evident. I call it the gracious hand of God. Love this post.

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    1. Thank you for your kind commeny...yes His gracious Hand...all.is grace ❤️

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  6. I love your choice of verses from the various translations. They give a richer and deeper understanding of how awesome our God is :) Thank you for sharing this at #RaRalinkup :)

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    1. Thank you so much for your encouraging comments...I so agree with you about the richness of God's Word...so amazing ❤️

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  7. Thank you Jesus that we can't understand you. The mystery is where the beauty is held. It is there that we see his ways and his power. I love this Beth. Thank you for expanding my thinking and for joining the #RaRalinkup on Purposeful Faith.

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    1. Kelly, I so appreciate your encouraging words. #RaRaLinkUp is such a wonderful cadre of anointed sisters in Christ, such a blessing every week ❤️

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  8. Wonderful reminder of God and His hands on our lives, nothing comes to us unless it is filtered through Gods hands.- what comfort. Thank you for sharing with us at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings

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    1. Thank you, Terri, for taking time to leave such an encouraging comment. It is a joy to be part of Good Morning Mondays. Many blessings to you ❤️

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  9. This is especially poignant as I grieve with a friend who lost her daughter in a tragic bicycle accident. I pray not only for my friend, but for the gentleman who hit her daughter. My friend and her family can rejoice during their sorrow because they know God and because their daughter's tragic death will give the gift of life to many others (she was an organ donor).

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing this with me...I will be praying for your friend and her family and the gentleman involved...praying that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is wrapping His Loving Arms around them in this difficult time...truly...all is grace.

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  10. No coincidences with our God! Amen! Thank you for such an encouraging article. Visiting from Women with Intention. ♥

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    1. Thank you, Nannette. I am so enjoying getting to know new sisters in Christ at Women with Intention. Many blessings to you!

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  11. This is so good. I love the line "I release it all." Oh, I need to do that today, after I found myself worrying about things out of my control this morning. God is good and in control! Thank you!

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    1. Dana, thank you for your encouraging comments. I like to picture our Great Shepherd of the Sheep, Jesus Christ, is the beautiful green pastures of the 23rd Psalm, and I walk out to Him, and "release it all" into His everlasting arms. Many blessings to you.

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  12. "Resting in the mystery" can be so hard yet rewarding when our faith in God deepens. Thanks for sharing this at #ThreeWordWednesday.

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    1. Kristin, I so agree with you...resting, trusting, in the mystery makes me feel like the little lamb in my Great Shepherd's arms...completely dependent, yet so loved. Thank you for stopping by from over at #ThreeWordWednesday, it is a joy to get to know such sweet sisters in Christ. Many blessings to you.

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  13. Oceans is one of those songs that makes me stop in my tracks and worship our amazing God. He does see the beginning from the end and every step we take in between. I forget that sometimes - how sovereign, how able He is to go before us. Blessed by your words today - your neighbor at Holley's place.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by from Holley's place to leave a comment! I so agree with you...I stand amazed, in awe, at His Majesty...truly all is grace. Many blessings to you.

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  14. Yes, mystery. It is one of my newly favorite gems about God and this (also mysterious) life of faith. Thank you for sharing with Small Wonder.

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    1. Amber, thank you so much for stopping by from over at Small Wonder to leave such an encouraging comment. I so agree with you. Many blessings,

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  15. One of my favorite verses is Matthew 11:28-30. Thank you for sharing it today. We can trust Him. God is faithful! Following you at #Woman2Woman.

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    1. Thank you, Julie. I am so encouraged by all the sweet sisters in Christ at #Woman2Woman. Many blessings to you!

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  16. My word for 2015 is "Trust". Sometimes it's so easy to throw that word around. But when you have a situation in your life, that's when it matters most. When you make that decision daily it makes things so much easier. It really is simple to just trust God and watch Him work in our lives. Great post and I love that song from Hillsong too! Visiting from W2W. Diane

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    1. Diane, how amazing! My word for 2015 is "trusting"... I like the "present-active-participle" form with the "ing" ... remembering that is something that is continual, presently, actively trusting Him moment-by-moment all day and all night long...we trust Him with our eternity, we can trust Him with our next breath, truly all is grace. Many blessings to you, thanks for stopping by from W2W!

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  17. Beth i loved this beautiful post. I love how you connected scripture to the powerful words of that song. I love the word mystery that you started with. It truly is a divine mystery that is so worth trusting in. Thanks!! Popped over from live free thursday. Thanks for the beautiful freedom reminder

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    1. Jenn, thank you so much for your thoughtful and encouraging comments! I so agree with you. Many blessings to you!

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  18. I love that song! It always reminds me to reach out, draw closer to the Lord and to just be present with Him.

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    1. Yes, "just be present with Him"...such joy, such peace...thank you for taking time to leave such an encouraging comment! Many blessings to you.

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  19. This is a really encouraging post. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you, it is a blessing for me to share things the Lord has used to encourage me ❤️

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  20. Beautiful verses you've shared today to encourage us, Beth. #livefreeThursday
    Have a great weekend, Kim Stewart
    http://www.kimstewartinspired.com

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    1. Kim, thank you so much for your comment, many blessings to you ❤️

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  21. Oh my, Beth ... we both posted on Oceans.

    I've got goose bumps!

    Trusting Him, with you, as He leads us through the stormy waters.

    Sabbath blessings, friend ...

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    1. Amen! Linda, how anointed is "Oceans"...loved your post today...what a blessing you are to me and so many others ❤️

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  22. Yes this is encouragement indeed. I love the different translations and the way you shared verses to amplify the message of the song. Love dwelling on the mystery of God. Linking with you today at Faith and Friends.

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    1. Ginger, thank you so much for your encouraging comments...love meeting new sisters in Christ at Faith and Friends ❤️

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  23. Lovely truths! I am blessed that you shared this at The Weekend Brew. And yes, there are no accidents with God- He is the way, the truth and the light! Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Mary, for stopping by and leaving such an encouraging comment from over at The Weekend Brew. Many blessings to you ❤️

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  24. Met up with this encouraging post at Sunday Stillness where I am your neighbor. Blessings on your weekend.

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    1. Michele, thank you so much for stopping by from Sunday Stillness to leave a sweet comment. Many blessings to you ❤️

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  25. I was so blessed by these reminders, Beth. You're preaching the same gospel I preach to myself, and it resonates deeply. Thank you so much for linking this with us at Grace & Truth!

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    1. Jennifer, thank you so much for your encouraging comments. It is such a blessing to hear that what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has used to encourage me, resonates with others. I so enjoy getting to know sweet sisters in Christ at Grace & Truth. Many blessings to you ❤️

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