11077100_lWhere are you right now? Pause for a moment and really consider this question. If you’ve done what I’ve asked, what did you come up with? Now, I want you to pray about it. And after you’ve prayed about it, I want you to trust that God has your situation all under control, even if you don’t understand it right now.

The truth is…we’re not always going to understand everything right away. Sometimes it takes time. Take for example a broken relationship. You may have been all torn up about it initially, but as time went on, you probably realized that it was the best thing that happened in the long run. Trust me. I’ve been there before (so grateful!). Sure, I didn’t understand it all in the beginning. I cried my eyes out. I even went through what I called, “Love Rehab.” But God definitely knew what He was doing and He was doing what was best for me. I see it today. And now I really have the love of my life! (*my hubby)

No matter what the situation, God knows best, my sister. Even if you don’t understand everything right now. Remember that He knows everything you’re going through and everything you’re going to go through in the future. And He’s right there with you.

Now, I have to say that as I was reading about “understanding”, I began researching what the actual word meant in Webster. I think this helps when you’re dealing with difficult circumstances in your life. The word actually means to comprehend, grasp something, discern, and have the ability to think, learn, or sense what’s being said, done, or asked of you.

I hope this helps you as much as it helped me. It’s totally okay to ask questions when you don’t understand something or when you don’t quite grasp what God is allowing to take place in your life. Sometimes it requires quiet trust, and other times, you can simply ask (with all due respect).

James 5:5 says, “If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask him, and he will gladly tell you.” Now, granted God answers us in His own timing when He’s allowing us to go through things, and how we ask makes a difference. Consider Job in the Bible. God brought him through so much. He allowed a lot of hard things to happen in his life when he lost his children, his possessions, when his health failed, and when his friends began to criticize his strong faith. But it was during the criticism, where Job had reached his max. That’s when he began to question why God was allowing all of those things to happen to him.

Now God didn’t answer right away. He let him talk, while he endured the trial. But the whole time, God heard his cry, his plea, and his complaints. Yet, He answered him in due time. And when He answered, He answered him pretty strongly, because He questioned His plan and God’s course for his life. But in the end Job learned a valuable lesson…not to question God’s ways and how He deals or what He allows to take place in life, because Father knows best.

If you don’t know the end of the story…Job was blessed beyond measure! Job 42:10 says, “In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!” Do you see that?! Job didn’t understand it all while He was going through it, but when God began to reveal to Him who He was, Job suddenly began to understand. He understood that God is God, and that He knows what’s best.

Personally, I’ve gone through some hard things in my life, and I can honestly tell you that I didn’t understand it all when I was going through it. But with God, He showed me that He was my strength, my rock, my deliverer, my strong tower, my protector, my very present help in a time of trouble, and that I could hold onto His victorious right hand through it all. When you’re going through tough circumstances, you’ve got to know who He is for yourself. You’ve got to pull out the Scriptures that will minister to your situation and believe it with everything inside of you.

For me, it was Isaiah 41:10 which says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” That Scripture was life to me in my time of trial. And I still treasure it today.

So again, God doesn’t work on our time clock, sis. But He does work things out. Sometimes, we understand right away and sometimes we don’t. It takes time. I believe our job is just to trust Him even when we don’t quite get it all at first glance, and remember that God is God. Just like Job, we can know that He has a plan for it all, and that it will be good in the end (Romans 8:28).

Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out!

~Courtnaye

NOTE: If you haven’t read the book of Job, I strongly recommend that you read it after this post. You’ll have a better understanding of who God is in the midst of any trial. And remember what Jesus said, “…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Be encouraged.

*Thanks for reading! I hope and pray that you’ve been enlightened from this post. Feel absolutely free to leave a comment or for questions you can email me directly at insideoutwithcourtnaye@gmail.com, and I will respond promptly. Also, tune in every Monday at 7:30am for new posts! Don’t forget to “Like” my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutWCourtnaye) and share this blog with friends, family, co-workers, or your women’s group or ministry. I’d love to stay connected and help more women grow in the Lord! Thanks again and may God be with you!