Outcomes

 

We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5:11

Sometimes we judge the work of God prematurely. At any given point if we look at the circumstances of our lives we may conclude that God doesn’t love us, or that he is mean and vindictive. The reason for this is at any given point in our lives, we may not see the complete work of the Lord in a matter.

We have to wait for the outcomes. We have to see the matter to completion. We have to know the end of the story.

Consider Job. If we pick up his account anywhere but the final few chapters, his story looks unbearable and unfair. In all but the end of the Book of Job, God looks uncaring and harsh.

But when you get to the end of the story, when you see the Lord’s outcomes, then you see things differently. Rather than seeing a mean and vindictive God, we see Him as holy and just.

Seeing outcomes requires time. It requires faith while waiting. Time is something we seem to have very little of these days and waiting is something few of us are good at.

But both time and faith are required if we are going to see the Lord’s outcomes.

A few days after the brutal murder of Jim Elliott and his fellow missionaries, no good outcome was visible. But in the sixty years since, the Lord’s good outcomes are quite evident.

Obviously, some outcomes will not be fully known until we are in heaven. But many are clearly visible right now. Are you looking for them?

What situation have you written off as a complete loss? What relationship, illness or personal risk that you have taken appears to be a complete waste and has no redeeming value?

Don’t give up on it…keep praying and seeking the Lord’s outcomes. Remember: The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Oh God, give us the faith and patience to seek and wait for Your outcomes. In Jesus’ name . . .

 

 

 

 

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