Complicated… When asked about relationship status, I often see or hear people say ‘it’s complicated’….
All relationships are complicated. Some more so than others I suppose. It seems to me that the relationships we have that are so very complicated have gotten that way from our own poor choices.
This morning I read the story of Abram and his childless wife. (Gen.16)
There was a promise of God. There would be a son. God said so. Yet, it hadn’t come to pass yet and Sarai thought perhaps she needed to help God out a bit. So, according to the custom of the day, she sent one of her female servants to her husband. (I can’t fathom that…but I read that it was common in the culture of that day.) A child born to this servant would be considered the child of the servant’s master….Sarai would finally get what she longed for.
Then it began to get complicated. (An understatement, I’m sure !!)
Jealousy. Resentment. Mistrust. Blame. Regret.
I’m prone to think Abram could have nipped this problem in the bud. But he didn’t, and after the relationship with the servant girl was established, it could not be un-done. The literal history of the world was changed. Ishmael was born. The Arabs are his descendants.
Complicated ? Indeed so. But God is not hindered by our complications. He IS hindered by our refusal to deal with the consequences of our own choices. It is never wise to manipulate circumstances. But when we have done so, the best thing we can do is run TO God, not away from Him.
Facing our complications face to face with the God of the universe is the best way to unravel any complicated situation. He has the most amazing way of cutting right through all the complicated messes we make. But we have to make that decision, be brave enough to look at it honestly, with ourselves and with Him….and trust Him enough to act on what He says.
It won’t be easy. It won’t be fun. But it will always be harder and more painful when we refuse to do so.
There is absolutely nothing that is too complicated for God. And the amazing thing is….when we obediently place all of it in His Hands, He brings blessings out of those awful messes !
He is so good.
