Solutions August 2018 | Page 67

we don’t understand what a God who says He surpasses all understanding is doing. God doesn’t want us to get stuck scratching our heads or overanalyzing our circumstances. He doesn’t send in all the plays to get us out of our funk, and He doesn’t carpet- bomb us with instructions about what to do next. Instead, He continues to be with us. He’s not entirely silent when He is either. He’s sent us books about Him and has included a lot of letters, and He’s sent us friends too. He’s given us successes and failures—plenty of both. He’s written things on our hearts like love and grace and patience and compassion so we can write those things on the hearts of our friends. We’re God’s calligraphy. He doesn’t do this so our words will look better, but because He sees the beauty in our lives. When we dream up something where the outcome seems uncertain and we don’t hear God’s voice, what if God isn’t saying anything to us because He’s already said it? Like my time with Adam flying into the lake, I can picture God sitting beside each of us, not confused or afraid but confident we have all the information we need. We may not have had experience with the circumstances we’re presently facing, but He’s allowed us to experience a lifetime of other things to prepare us for what is coming next. He knows that without risk we can’t grow. God didn’t promise us a safe life. Instead, He said He would give us a dangerous, courageous, and purposeful one if we’ll take Him at His word and stay engaged. Sometimes God is confidently quiet. He doesn’t give us more explanations. He knows we don’t need more words of instruction. The moment we take even a tiny shuffle Solutions • 67