Wrong Place at the Right Time - Martin Wiles

A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. Mark 15:21 NLT

Daily, thousands, perhaps millions, of people are at the wrong place at the wrong time.

As I listen to the latest news headlines while eating breakfast, I hear about many of them. Some are seriously injured while others are killed. A police officer is shot. A motorist is involved in a life-altering accident. Some board a plane only to have it crash or be blown up by terrorists. Others are the victims of robberies or murders.

Apparently, Simon of Cyrene was one of them. Minding his own business, hobbling in from the countryside, he is accosted by Roman soldiers leading Jesus to Calvary to crucify him. By this time, Jesus struggles because of the persecution he has endured. Rather than fooling with his inability to move faster, the soldiers enlist someone to carry the cross for Jesus.

But, then again, perhaps Simon wasn’t at the wrong place at the wrong time. Just maybe, he was at the wrong place at the right time. Cyrene is located in modern-day Libya, so it’s possible Simon was an African man coming to worship during the Passover celebration. Although he worshiped the Jewish God, this experience of carrying Jesus’ cross likely led him to faith in the Messiah. By shouldering the cross, he would have touched the blood of Jesus and probably Jesus himself. Though his experience wasn’t pleasant, Simon was where he needed to be.

God has a habit of placing us in what appear to be the wrong places at the most inconvenient times. Later, we discover these times and places are just where we need to be to learn essential lessons that propel us forward in our spiritual growth. From God’s perspective, there is never a wrong place or a wrong time. He guides our steps and forms our image after his, just as the potter does the clay vessel. As with Simon, if we’re perceptive, he’ll put us exactly where we need to be.

Don’t fear the events of the day. Instead, trust God to put you exactly where he needs you so you can experience all he has in store.

Father, give me faith that you will place me exactly where I need to be. 

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Good God, All the Time - Martin Wiles

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT

Two hurricanes back to back, but God’s goodness remains.

Coastal Texas and Louisiana reeled from the effects of Harvey—a powerful hurricane that blew on shore and wreaked havoc on property and lives. Pictures caused me to gasp. Structures flattened. As many as sixty people dead. Most—if not all of them—innocent people. People minding their own business, going about life the best they knew how. Until Harvey changed it all. Harvey took lives, businesses, homes, possessions, dreams. Floods capitalized on the winds.

Irma followed closely on Harvey’s heels. The largest Atlantic hurricane on record, packing sustained winds of 185 mph. Florida was in her path, and she was as wide as the entire state. Islands felt her wrath before the state. Irma repeated Harvey’s destruction—only with not as much rain but more wind. The death toll copied Harvey. So did the destruction of property.

Many question the existence and goodness of God when evil and tragedy rear their ugly heads. How could a good God allow such things to happen? If God does exist, He must be a wimp because evil appears to be winning more than it’s losing. Questions asked or pondered by unbelievers—but contemplated by believers occasionally too, if we’re honest.

The apostle Paul knew trouble. He inflicted it on early Christians before he became one, and after he believed he endured it himself—eventually dying for his faith. He knew, however, what lay ahead for him: heaven. And what he would experience in heaven would far outweigh anything he faced on earth.

God’s wants to stretch our faith—not destroy it. His goodness remains even when calamity strikes. He doesn’t inflict evil, although He allows it to continue. If evil was stronger than God, then God wouldn’t be sovereign. Individual elements in our world demonstrate the existence of evil, but God promises to take the parts and bake a delicious whole from them for His children.

I’ve experienced tragedies and disappointments that have rumbled my faith and raised questions in my mind. But my faith remains intact because it’s built on the solid foundation that God loves me and has my best interests at heart—regardless of how things might appear. He has the same in mind for you.

Never question God’s love or goodness. He loves matchlessly and exudes goodness continuously.

Tweetable: Do you sometimes question God's love?

Prayer: Father, strengthen our faith for the good times and for the bad times. 

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I Don’t Understand - Martin Wiles

Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted. Job 36:26 NLT

“But they don’t have mouths. How can they drink?”

An intelligent question from my four-year-old grandson. I was teaching him lessons about growing flowers and a garden by letting him plant a flower and vegetable garden in our backyard. I dug the holes; he dropped the seeds.

As each flower and vegetable came up, I explained what they were called, what they would produce, and how they would produce it. When the squash bloomed, I showed him where the squash would grow. I explained how the corn would produce ears.

One day as I was watering the flowers, he asked what I was doing. “Giving the flowers something to drink. They get thirsty just as you do,” I said.

“But they don’t have mouths,” he insightfully replied.

I took the opportunity to explain how flowers and plants drink: through their roots and some through their leaves. My answer satisfied him. He had learned something else he hadn’t previously understood.

Job had many things he didn’t understand, among them why God was allowing a whole list of bad things to come into his life. Although he continued to trust God, the trials didn’t seem to match what He thought about God. And what’s worse, God never explained. I’ve never faced the type of trials Job did, but I’ve had my share and I’ve also had my share of fail-to-understand episodes.

Remembering God is sovereign helps me persevere. In my grandson’s eyes, I probably am too—though he has no idea what the word means. Job refused to curse God, as his wife told him too, and chose to believe God was in control.

As my sovereign guide, God’s ways are higher than mine—and often beyond my ability to understand. This should call forth greater faith in me, as it did Job, rather than cause me to lose faith in Him.

God operates in a realm I’ve never entered—nor can I understand it. I live in time; He doesn’t. Though outside of time, He created time, created me in time, and often operates in time with me. Job chose to continue worshiping God even though he lacked understanding. He believed God was working for his good—although it appeared otherwise.

Job’s response to his lack of understanding should be ours. When you can’t understand God’s actions, trust that He loves you and has your best in mind.

Tweetable: Do you believe even though you don't understand?

Prayer: Father, when we can’t see Your hand, help us to trust Your heart. 

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