GOD'S WAY=RIGHT WAY

Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. 

Hosea 14:9 

After spending 14 chapters pleading with the people of Israel to turn away from their sin of spiritual adultery, warning them of coming judgment because of their continued idolatry and apostasy, reminding them of God’s continuing love and forgiveness if they would but turn back to Him, the prophet Hosea finishes his book with these words:

THE WAYS OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT.

As I read these words, my mind went to many different times in my own life when the Lord’s way was right. And there were times when I found myself able to walk in them, and there were other times when I stumbled in them because I wanted to do things my own way. But whether I walked or stumbled, the truth didn’t change—God’s way is always the right way. 

Even as I look back at what God has chosen to bring our family through these past months, I can confidently say that God’s way has been right. I will be the first to admit that there have been times along the way that I questioned what He was doing, I struggled to hold to the Biblical promises that I had so often shared with others as they went through hard things. But time and again God showed Himself faithful. 

I’ll quickly share one such story. Our finances were especially tight during the months Chad was without work; and yet, we had a birthday to celebrate in the midst of that time. Our youngest was turning five, and what she wanted more than anything else was for her whole family to go to Chick-fil-A for supper on her birthday. Now, I don’t know if you’ve been there lately, but that place is not cheap. And taking a family of eight was not really in the budget. There were days during this time period when I would get on my knees and beg the Lord to show us the way and show Himself faithful. It had been one of these days that I ended up at church for reasons I can’t even remember. And as I walked in the door , our office manager pointed to an envelope on her desk and said it was for us. I took it home and opened it. And inside was a card from a dear couple in our church. They knew nothing of our daughter’s birthday wish, and yet, in their kindness (and, clearly, following God’s prompting) they gifted us two gift cards to none other than Chick-fil-a. With their generous gift, we were able to grant our daughter’s birthday wish…and had about $0.97 to spare!

There have been many other moments like this one along the way, where God has continued to remind me of the “rightness” of His way. My prayer for myself and my prayer for you who might be reading is this: may we be wise to understand, insightful to recognize that the ways of the Lord are always right. May we walk in His ways.