The God of My Future Problems

4

It’s hard to believe, but we’re almost halfway through 2009. What will the rest of this year bring? Will the economy turn around? What will happen in the Middle East? And what will happen to us personally? No one knows but God.

It happened not long after I returned from Belize in 1992. While rummaging through an accumulated mountain of mail, I came across an article about “the prevenient grace of God.” The phrase refers to “the grace that goes before.” Here’s a working definition:  “In every situation of life God is already at work before I get there. He is working creatively, strategically and redemptively for my good and his glory.”

Wow! So many times I tend to limit my thinking to the fact that God’s presence goes with me as I go through life. That’s true, but it’s onlypart of the story. He’s not only with me now, he’s already way up the road ahead of me.Think about it this way: While I am struggling with the problems of today, God is hard at work providing solutions for the things I am going  to face tomorrow. He’s already there, working creatively in situations
I have yet to face, preparing them for me and me for them.Or to say it another way: While I’m living in Tuesday, he’s clearing the road for me on Friday. That’s what Proverbs 3:6 means when it says that “He will make your paths straight.”Or to say it yet another way: God is already at work providing solutions  for problems I don’t even know I have yet! That blows my mind.Are you worried about next week? Forget it. He’s already there. How about the rest of 2009? Don’t sweat it. He’s already there. What about that  crucial meeting next week? Sleep well. He’s already there. What about
that tough decision that looms ahead of you? Fear not. He’s already there.It would be enough if God simply walked with you through the events of life. But he does much more than that. He goes ahead of you, clearing the way, arranging the details of life, so that when you get there, you can have confidence that God has already been there before you.That’s the prevenient grace of God. He goes before his people. He’s at work in the future while we live in the present. With that encouraging  thought, I wish you a very good day.

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Visitor Comments:

June 13, 2009, 9:01 AM judyshub says:
	Thank you for your timely note today, Ray. We are experiencing “prevenient grace” in our family today. You hit the nail on the head!
June 13, 2009, 2:35 PM Ellis says:
	Thanks Pastor Ray! Currently worried about the future.
June 13, 2009, 7:52 PM Growing says:
	This is so comforting to know. The thought of God going before me is just simply comforting. Thank you for sharing this.
June 14, 2009, 2:30 PM butch88 says:
	Thanks for putting this togather in away that I truely can connect with. Now my faith and the trust in GOD kicks in that he is already cleared a path to my future w/o fear or worry. that’s my part!