God Notions

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

I found myself having a conversation with an elderly gentleman last week about the state of this world. He was getting a bit anxious and overwhelmed the more he thought and talked about it. He was about to walk away when I put my hand on his arm and stopped him.

I asked him, “You know what I love about God?”

“I love that He has revealed what will happen in this world. I love that as time unfolds, a lot of what God has revealed has come to pass. He is trustworthy, and His word is reliable. I can read scripture and watch world events unfold, just like a head of lettuce, peeling back and revealing layer by layer the innermost parts. God doesn’t want to be a mystery; He wants to be known. He wants us to know Him and His plan. He wants us to know so we aren’t anxious but prepared.”

The gentleman smiled kindly, touched my hand, and said, “I have to go now. We will talk another time.”

But I have not stopped thinking of this. As a mother, I want my children to know me, to trust me. I have gone to great lengths to teach them what I know because I want them to be prepared and ready. I set boundaries when they were little and still give guidance, even after leaving home. I didn’t dump everything on them at once. As children, they would have been overwhelmed and anxious. In my timing and their ability to handle situations, I have revealed to them what I know. Because I love them so very much, and I want them to learn I am trustworthy.

I think God is like that. He gives to us as we can understand and handle. God wants to be known and trusted. As we learn He is trustworthy, we can rest and have peace. Not because of our circumstances or the state of this world, but because we know Him, and it is in Him we trust and rely upon and have peace.