by Jane McKee
1 Corinthians 13 is known as the “love” chapter, because that is what it defines for us—the unconditional agapē love which is a necessity for all who profess to know Yeshua the Messiah. But when I read this chapter of Scripture, it is not the love-centered aspects which leap out to me, it is in fact verse 12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (KJV). There is something which stirs within my spirit every time this verse is read, which hits me more deeply than any other part.
I believe that resonation lies in the fact that regardless of how curious we are to know our future path, there is a blessing which lies in not knowing. Our lives are meant to be a walk of discovery—where we learn more about ourselves, each other, our giftings, our shortcomings, and overall what our purpose is in serving God our Father.
So many times I have seen people beat themselves up over what should come next in their lives—they just “have” to know, so that they will make the right decision. I think that sort of reasoning is backward. If we are meant to know what’s next, the Father shows us; if not, then the decision you should be making is the next step toward finding out. I think one of the greatest parts of faith is learning when to entrust the unknown things to the Lord and to step forward and see what will happen.
In my own life, there have been more than a few times when I have greatly desired to know what will be, so that I can make the “right” choice now. The fact is, I already know what my next immediate decision should be, but I mentally put the fleece out there, like Gideon, to reconfirm something that I feel uneasy about. It’s that in-between, limbo-like phase, in which none of us can sit comfortably in our own strength. That is the time when we need to rely on the Father instead—understanding that He is in charge and pray for His Heavenly shalom to envelop us as we wait to see what is waiting further down the path ahead.
Today’s generation is one of instant gratification—even though that is not how real life actually works! But knowing that we can obtain everything else we want the very moment that we desire it, shortens our patience and leads to a lack of thankfulness in what God is doing as we focus on what we perceive He isn’t doing (or not fast enough). Personally, I’ve run into a few brick walls on this one. And each time I hit one, the Lord has let me know that my frustration with the situation is rooted in my lack of understanding of what the thing I seek so much requires. Timing is everything, as is the experience of getting there. For us to truly obtain the end result that is necessary, we have to wait on Him to guide us and not to pursue it in our own strength.
The fact is, a blessing exists in the unknown because of the growth required of us to walk with God through those times. It is our faith, our trust, and our hope which are to guide us along—with the knowledge that He does, in fact, have a plan for our lives if we are only patient. Don’t steal your own blessing, by acting ungrateful during the experiences which make the end result worthwhile!
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, KJV).
Posted in General Posts, Jane McKee
