Life Upside Down

Chapter 1

The Planned Life

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

Proverbs 16:3 (NASB)

Growing up I never felt like I fit in. I was the youngest of four children, and while my brother and sisters were only one year apart from each other, I was four and a half years younger than my closest sister, so to say I was always left out is an understatement. This feeling of isolation did not break me in the way you would expect, but instead taught me that people will not always be there for you when you want them to be, and that abandonment is a real emotion. I felt like no one understood me and that I was meant to face the world alone. I wasn’t quite old enough to understand the concept of God, but I would later learn that it did not mean God abandoned me for He hears our groans and takes notice (Exodus 2:24-25).

There are many times in our life where we can feel lost and lonely and as if God has forgotten about us, but what we must remember is that God has his own timing. God does not rescue us on demand, and while we may live in a world where self-pleasure and instant gratification is prevalent, God rescues us when he knows the time is right. Little did I know it would be years before I was rescued. I can now look back and see so many instances of God’s grace and timing, but also realize just how hard it was to notice when in the moment. If you were to pause right now and think about the last time you took a moment to reflect on God's timing in your own life, what would you see? Would you find moments of God’s guidance? Or would you see all the times when you took control and it backfired?

A good example about God's timing is found in the book of Luke. The story of Zacharias and Elizabeth is about a priest and his wife who were unable to bear children even though they were faithful to the Lord. While it would have been easy for Elizabeth to become resentful or impatient, she instead trusted God and knew that if it was his will for her to have a child, then it would happen. One day, while her husband performed his priestly duties in the temple, an angel appeared beside him.

“But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will not drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Luke 1:13-17 (NASB, emphasis added)

What a statement! Can you imagine how Zacharias must have felt standing there, incense in hand, listening to the angel Gabriel tell him that not only will Elizabeth bear them a son, but that he would be the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah! And while news of a child such as this is important, one of the most fascinating parts of this story to me is not the news of a child being born, but that of Zacharias being silenced.

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He second guessed its possibility instead of believing in the impossible

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Zacharias knew him and Elizabeth were advanced in years, so rather than trust the words being spoken, he second guessed its possibility instead of believing in the impossible. For this reason, Zacharias was silenced (v. 20) but that does not mean he was unfaithful to God, for he was considered righteous in the eyes of the Lord (v. 6). We all have those moments though, don’t we? Those moments of doubt, or fear, or uncertainty? While we hesitate within our own emotions, it is important to take a step forward in faith and not let these feelings hold us back from the realization that God makes all things possible (Matthew 19:26). Even though Zacharias was silenced due to his quick second of doubt, he was still a faithful man who believed in the power of the Lord.

I always wonder how Elizabeth felt. Do you think she expected her husband to come home after his priestly services were complete without the ability to speak? I can only imagine how that must have gone.

Elizabeth - "Zacharias! You are home. How was the temple?"

Zacharias - …shrugs…

Okay, so I am sure there was much more excitement upon his return than a mere shrug since even when he came out of the temple, he was making signs to those around him (v. 22), but it is funny to imagine a husband who once had much to say, now be completely mute. I am sure there were many times throughout her pregnancy that she enjoyed that peace and quiet. But then I think about Zacharias. How hard must that have been to be given the best news from an angel of the Lord, and yet be unable to share that joy with his beloved wife who had longed for a child for years. That must have been extremely frustrating, but that is the thing about timing, isn't it?

Sometimes it can be so hard to wait to share the latest exciting news, or finally have the answers to whether all your dreams and hard work have paid off. It is within these instances that it is best to pause and evaluate if this is on your time or God's time. Take a second to think about your current situation. Is God telling you to wait when you are pushing for answers? Is your impatience causing you to draw farther away from God? If so, ask for forgiveness and move forward with your eyes looking straight ahead and fix your gaze directly before you (Proverbs 4:25).

Now I am not proud of this but growing up I was a bit of a spoiled brat. I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it, and if I did not get it right away, I would throw a fit! Unfortunately, this trait followed me into adulthood, and while there are still times when I want to throw a fit when I do not get what I want, I have learned to take pause in those moments and bring them before God to check my intentions and focus on His timing rather than my own. Like it says in Psalms 4:4-5, "Tremble and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in the Lord."(NASB, emphasis added) Be still. All God wants is for us to be obedient and submissive in our thoughts because He knows that His ways are greater than our own and when we are still and listen to His will for our lives, better things are to come. Does that mean we will not make mistakes? Of course not. There will be plenty of times that you stumble, fall, and choose selfish desires, but do not let those moments of weakness define you.

During those times of uncertainty in your own life, do not second guess yourself when you make a mistake or act out of your own accord, instead make an allowance for your faults, and forgive yourself, just as the Lord has forgiven you (Colossians 3:13). Emotions are a messy and complicated part of life that we all must endure, and sometimes, those emotions are negative. In Untangling Emotions, Winston T. Smith states, “Christians sometimes have the faulty view that the more we know, trust, and love God, the less we experience negative emotions. While it is true that our faith can keep us from being ruled by our emotions, it does not mean that we do not feel negative things or live in a fixed state of emotional bliss.” ¹. In other words, give yourself grace.