What Is Best For You

September 26

Isaiah 47-48

Psalm 106:40-48

Proverbs 23:24-25

1 Thessalonians 3

What Is Best For You

“This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:  ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.  If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.  Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains;  their name would never be blotted out nor destroyed from before me.’”  Isaiah 48:17-19  LSB 

It is hard to wrap our heads around the idea that we don’t always know what is best for ourselves.  We have an idea in our heads about how we think our lives should go.  We have plans, dreams, and goals to make it happen.  Sometimes we are able to accomplish our goals, but sometimes no matter how much we plan and how hard we work, things just don’t fall into place the way we want.  In those moments, it is hard to understand that it is God’s divine sovereignty and mercy that are preventing us from getting what we want.  Even if we are following God and we think we know what He wants, sometimes we get it wrong and He has to intervene.  In His sovereignty, He always knows what is best.  He can see the past, the present circumstances and the future and knows what we need to do in every situation.  Not only does He know what is best, but He leads, guides and directs us to walk in the path that is right for us.  In His love and mercy, He wants us to have the best life possible. If we are willing to listen to Him and do what He says, He will help us navigate our path.  “And your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.’”  Isaiah 30:21 LSB 

If we pay attention to His commands and listen to His instructions, our lives will be filled with peace and well-being.  While we cannot avoid all the difficulties that are a result of living in a fallen world, we do not have to experience the pain and heartache of our own personal bad choices.  We can choose to obey God and heed His warnings.  Some of the problems we have to deal with in life are because of the bad decisions and choices of others.  We may not be able to insulate ourselves completely from their consequences, but we can experience God’s peace and protection during the difficulty.  We cannot control the decisions of others but we can pay attention to His commands and seek His wisdom when we are making decisions so that we experience His blessing and favor.