Can we choose how God is glorified?
Come up with the best version of the story that He could plan?
I know, that I know the answers to my heart struggle questions are ‘No.’ {But I still feel responsible for creating glory for my Lord.}
Glory is defined as “a state of high honor, a brilliant radiant beauty.” {I love that God is infinitely beautiful.}
How does God receive glory?
- God receives glory from the Son. {John 13:32}
- Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. {Psalm 111:3}
- God is worthy of glory because He created all things. {Revelation 4:11}
- When every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, The Father receives glory. {Phill 2:11}
Sometimes I think I can see the path to which God would receive the most glory. The best version of the story. My life most comparable to the lives in the Word.
Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” {John 11:4}
Sometimes I think for my story to look so different, to travel along a path unknown and untold, must mean less glory for my Father.
Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God? – Jesus {John 11:40}
I really don’t want ‘another way’ of how God will receive glory through my life. I would sadly prefer the mediocre version I’ve crafted. The one that is similar to another’s.
What I long for is a story where I don’t have to bear deep questions, struggle for direction, or grasp for an easy out that looks like the life of my neighbor.
I’ve realized I’ve been trying to plan and over-ride interrupted expectations, desperately seeking to understand how God will be glorified, how my life weaves into His master plan, that I lose ——– lose sight of the moments He has creatively answered my prayers, lose the courage to do the next step, or the worst of all, lose sight of His radiant glory in the uniqueness of my life.
By trying to create glory for my God, I have tried to control Him.
When options or opportunities arise that I don’t think would make for a wonder-filled enough story for His sake, I try to look through the moment to find the one I think He really had planned. {This couldn’t be it.}
I miss the plan. The one that could soak me to the bone, be painful, hurt, or laugh out loud in astonishment.
I assume it would be better to remain dry, but He knows the rain drops will reveal moments that He and I would never otherwise have shared. He asks me to run through the drops of living water from heaven and enjoy the unexpected puddles.
Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God {Romans 15:17} and pray the story He has written for me is one of infinite beauty and honor for Him alone. To live the life that will bring Him glory, the way He had planned all along.
by Stephanie Bryant, co-founder of (in)courage and now Creative Mastermind at S. Bryant Social Marketing.
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I’m gobsmacked! This is something the Lord has been pressing on my heart ALL week and my latest blog post was John 11:40! God is a beauty – no doubt about it!
Oh to be tuned to what we do…!!! I have been called out, ever so gently, and yet incredibly clearly. I do this so often–trying to manipulate what I think would be a *better* plan or THE plan…that I miss the point. I also even try to control HIM. Who do I think I am? And yet, He still calls me His Beloved…such amazing grace. Your words today gave me a perspective about my own behavior that I hope to transform my thinking and behavior. I appreciate your words today and the time I chose to read them.
Rich blessings in your surrender, Stephanie!
Thank you Stephanie for this reminder…I’m a great control freak/planner, etc. My word for the week has been “LET”… so many times we are told to LET GOD, or let the peace of God rule, or let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…so many more.
So appreciate this post. Have been thinking much lately of Sarah “fixing” the problem of barrenness for God. He really doesn’t need or help, just our obedience as we trust Him to keep His Word.
oh…how i get this. i was just writing a piece this morning about this very thing. i’m a mother of five battling breast cancer…i would never have chosen this road to show God’s glory…His goodness… but He chose it for me and He is showing me evidence of His glory even here. especially here, in the midst of my mess and in the disappointment of disease. He is here and His glory is evident…even radiant.
Amen to Unexpected Puddles! I am forever trying to be in control. Never letting Him rain on me from above and I’ve skipped over many puddles. Oh how I long to be soaked.
This is fantastic Stephanie and soooo deep. Thanks for this. I am wrestled with this too and have never heard it verbalized. Awesome!
Wonderful post. My husband and I are reading through Job right now and were discussing this very thing last night! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this morning. I just spent the last half hour on my knees begging God to “do the plan my way”! To take away my physical pain of an illness there is no cure for, to take away my emotional pain of a daughter trapped in a body that does not let her talk, walk,or do anything to help herself, to have some semblance of “normal” to my life. BUT only God and only God and only God…..is what I need. To let Him have all the glory and if it is through my physical and emotional pain, then I accept it. For His glory.
Oh that we could see what He sees!…this is my struggle too.
“get soaked to the bone…enjoy the unexpected puddles…of living water” Yes, I agree, I, too, need to run in the rain, come what may, and know that He created rain and shine and called it all “Good.”
Who am I to say, that the path with the rain is not His perfect will. Who am I to say, that the path with the shine is His will.
For me, I think it comes down to Faith, Trust and living with Joy in the moment. It may be the only moment we have to shine His glory, and inadvertently, His Love, for someone who has never seen either.
Good Blog, Thank you.
~Di
Thank-you
Wow! I’m humbled … I’m typically —ok, almost always—a healthy 55 year old. The last 4 days I’ve had some stomach and headache issues that I’ve let overwhelm me. I know … so little and ridiculous, but nonetheless, I succumbed to the self pity, and begged God to go with my plan to let me feel like my old self and soon, dog gone it!
But while I was “down” I’ve had the opportunity to find and read almost every post (and comments) here on (in)courage. I’ve met and lost Sara, I’ve read of major, major, life struggles and you all encouraged me soooooo much in the last 4 days.
Without my little stomach and head ache … I would never have gleaned this much from and our wonderful Savior.
Thank you and to God be the glory. Amen
“By trying to create glory for my God, I have tried to control Him.”
Ouch. This is exactly what I needed to here tonight and be reminded of.
I tend to get so caught up in the “doing” of the day rather than stop and see what He is doing in my life and those around me.
Thanks for sharing!