ORDERED!

Lately, I’ve been thinking about conversations I’ve had with different people. We had discussions about things happening in their lives as well as mine, whether it be a falling apart or coming together. By that I mean there are times when things fall apart in our lives. Something, someone or some situation in your life comes to an end...you lose a loved one, a job, a relationship, an opportunity you thought would last, you no longer have. Or maybe things are coming together. Meaning you experience a gain or a blessing that you have been waiting for. And you may be grappling with that because for one reason or another you feel like you’re not quite ready to receive it or it may just be overwhelming.  It can be something that you’ve been praying for that you are actually starting to realize. Or maybe something was prophesied over you, and you have absolutely NO IDEA how it will be accomplished or how it will get done. You don’t have the time, the resources, the energy, the skills or the ability. Or so you think.

But Holy Spirit has been speaking to me about 'ordered steps'. It's a phrase we've all heard and think we well understand. But what does it really mean? Psalms 37:23-24 says 'The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand (NLT).  This verse of scripture kept coming back to my mind as I pondered what God really does for us when He "orders" our steps.

For me the question is always HOW is God ordering my steps in a situation. Especially when I am knee deep in problems and I just don’t see it.  Of course, I know the Bible says it, but it doesn’t always feel like it. And if I’m being honest at times those "ordered steps" often have me questioning like "really Lord? This is where you’re bringing me??"  "Where exactly am I?"  "And how did I get here??"  In my flesh I don’t want to deal with anymore pruning or growth or development…just bless me, Lord!  Enough of the hardship, enough of the loss, enough of the struggles and letdowns. Enough!!! I don’t understand why something (seemingly bad) was allowed. God wants you and I to know, today, that He is ordering our steps. And not just in the good times. Because it's easy to trust, believe, rejoice and praise Him in those times. "Yes, Lord", we declare, "bring on everything good!" Though we may not always feel quite ready to receive them or we may wrestle with whether we’re experienced or knowledgeable enough for a position, opportunity or relationship, in most cases, we will welcome the blessings with open arms.

But Holy Spirit wants to remind us today that in the BAD times our steps are also being ordered. Huh?? Yeah, we know it in our heads, but do we trust it in our hearts? You started a dream job and then three months later they up and fired you for no valid reason? ORDERED. A relative has not spoken to you in years over some foolishness. ORDERED. Ministry dismissed you without any warning after you faithfully served. ORDERED! Your marriage is not all that you thought it would be and now you’re on the brink of divorce.  ORDERED!  Children have disappointed you and not lived up to your expectations.  ORDERED!  The doctor gives you a diagnosis that you didn’t want to hear.  ORDERED!  Someone who you’ve been friends with for years suddenly turns on you. ORDERED!  But how??

In trying times it’s hard to comprehend HOW God is ordering our steps, but verse 23 tells us, the Lord DIRECTS the steps of the godly.  That word direct means 'controlling the operations of and managing or governing'. So, God is LITERALLY controlling, managing and governing our steps! Some of you may know that I’ve worked and sung with singing groups and choirs most of my adult life. I thought of when I direct a choir or a group. I’m literally guiding them, giving them signals and prompts for when a particular part is coming and even at times helping them sing a part so that the song comes out sounding good…harmonies and all. Because, ultimately, my objective is to ensure the success of a song that’s rendered. If a section goes off track, I will sing into the mic to get them back on track. So, if I’m doing all that as a choral director how much more is God doing for us as we sojourn with Him??  God is directing our steps so our lives can work out for our GOOD and His GLORY. He’s orchestrating, signaling, speaking, directing, putting us back on track, if we allow Him, to ensure the success of our lives. It might not always feel good, but it will work out FOR YOU!  

Verse 23 also says, 'He delights in every detail of their lives'. The word delight means 'takes great pleasure in'. The LORD of the universe takes great, not a little, not a medium amount but GREAT pleasure in every detail of our lives.  The good days, the bad days, the days we feel insecure or down, the days when we feel lost, broken or hurt. He takes delight in those details not because he’s happy we’re going through bad times but because he’s going to use those days to bring us back victorious.  We won’t STAY down!  We will rise above the situation wiser, better, stronger, more mature and ready to help someone else who is going through something similar.

Verse 24 says, 'though we stumble or lose our way we will never fall because He is holding us by our hand.'  This brought to my mind a very vivid picture of when my children were toddlers. I would walk with them in the street holding their hands, firmly, because their footing wasn't sure. As a mother, I know that if I don’t hold a toddler's hand they will get tripped up on the uneven sidewalks or cracks and hit the pavement and hurt themselves badly.  So, I held their hand so that even if they stumble on the sidewalk cracks, even if they misstep they will not fall because I had their hand in mine. Father God does the very same for us! When we stumble on life’s cracks, get tripped up on people and relationships and situations, when we fumble because we didn’t see the warning signs or didn’t discern the danger or when we falter on the inequities and unfairness of life we WILL NOT fall because God has us by the hand!! Just like any good parent!

That situation should’ve messed you up but you’re still standing.  They laid everybody off, but you were spared. That closed door created a new opportunity for you. That illness should’ve taken you out but you’re still here!  So, be encouraged! Whatever you’re going through today…maybe it’s in your personal life, your marriage, on your job, in your mind, with a parent or a sibling…maybe God is calling you out of the shadows, maybe he’s pulling you into the spotlight, maybe great things are coming to pass and you have no idea HOW you’re going to handle it….no matter which way it's going, KNOW today that through it all your steps are ORDERED by the true and living God!  

~Dania Roberts