God Orchestrates Our Lives With Loving Precision

By Liberty McArtor, The Stream, Sept. 22, 2017 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28

Normally I wouldn’t attend a Bible study at the little country church of my childhood. While I love everything about it, it’s an hour away from where my husband and I currently live. But when my niece sent me a Facebook invitation to this fall’s women’s program, I decided to try. It’d be a fun way to see some of the ladies in my family regularly.

On Facebook I checked that I was “interested” in the event. I live by the Introverts’ Main Rule: Never firmly commit to anything you can loosely commit to. Up until a day before, I was a yeah, probably. I told the hubs I would “try it out,” and if the long drive was too taxing, I had a good excuse to fade easily back into nonattendance.

God had other plans.

An Introvert’s Struggle

As the first meeting approached, I paid zero attention to what the study was actually going to be about. After all, I was doing this to see family. And I definitely wasn’t going to buy a book, if there was a book to buy. Another rule introverts live by: Never spend money on a loose commitment. Meanwhile, I was struggling.

Here’s a third thing about introverts: We don’t really take initiative in the relationship department. This isn’t so much a rule as a reality. People like me are much more comfortable accepting the friends who happen to float by and wave at you. If I have to initiate something, I typically end up deciding it’s not worth it.

The bad thing about this? It’s not very biblical. Don’t worry, fellow introverts: I’m not suggesting our quiet but proud personality type is any sort of mistake on God’s part. But the downside of introversion is that it can make one rather selfish. It’s easy for me to recede into my own world, even when I know someone has a need. And when I feel God calling me to reach out and I don’t because it makes me uncomfortable, it’s not a personality quirk anymore. It’s downright disobedience.

These are all things I’ve known, but God had been pounding the point recently. He’d been pushing me to be more intentional in my current relationships, make new ones and reach out to people who may be in need. As silly as it sounds to you extroverts, it’s been a challenge for me.

The Bible Study is About What?

Fast-forward to the first week of the women’s Bible study. Before long, I was more committed than I meant to be. Turns out we did need a book. Oh, you have an extra? OK, I guess I’ll write a check … Turns out they expected me to actually engage with other people. Oh, we’re drawing the names of other women to pray for and check on? OK, here’s my number …

Then came the kicker.

“This study is all about creating and maintaining biblical, healthy friendships.”

Touche, God.

He’d been prepping me for this Bible study, and I didn’t even know it. What I thought was just a fun event was everything I needed to practice what he’d been teaching me. For instance, there are enough new faces to push me beyond my comfort zone, but enough familiar faces to inspire me to keep coming. There are practical exercises that will stretch me, leaders to hold me accountable and materials that can point me to relevant Scripture.

An extra bonus? The study is every other week. That won’t matter to everyone. But for me, who almost didn’t attend because of the long drive, it’s perfect.

It was almost as if God knew everything I needed, even the tiny things I’d never think to pray for, and brought it all together with a loving precision.

He Knows What He’s Doing

The entire course of events reminded me of something we all need to be reminded of. We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. But God does. Not only does he know. He’s making it happen — for a reason.

We’ve all worried about our future. We’ve all questioned the lessons he’s trying to teach us. We’ve all doubted whether God really has our back, after all.

Well, he does have your back. He’s already there in your future. The lessons he’s teaching you are to prepare you for something that only he can see. And you can trust him that it will be good.

Thank you, God, for reminding me of your sovereign control through something as simple as a women’s Bible study. Nothing you teach us, bring us through or call us to is an accident. It all fits together in a wonderful way, but we can’t always see that from our earthly vantage point. Help us to trust you. And most of all, thank you for providing what we don’t even know to pray for. You are good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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