Doug Van Pelt

If God withdrew...

I hadn't given much thought to it, and the confession of that makes me feel guilty for taking the Lord for granted. The God that created all things and through Him came into being...if He withdrew, we'd all be gone! While God's creation is solid and long-lasting, the fact that He holds it together is often overlooked...at least by me. I have to repent of this and simply acknowlege from my growing awareness, that He is bigger and more awesome and powerful than I thought.

I wonder how God's people of old (the Jews in the Old Testament) viewed God. They certainly had a different context of life. Granted, most of these people had to rely on God's Word and the retelling of His works and wonders (like the mighty deliverance and exodus from Egypt), so that is something I can relate to. Jeremiah was told by God that:

"'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.'"

Even though Jeremiah must've felt inadequate, God was big and willing and able to work through Jeremiah. That is crazy that the God of the universe would work through and with us, but He certainly does.

"'Ah, Sovereign Lord,' I said, 'I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.'"

Just like Moses many years prior, this guy makes himself out like he's unqualified; but God saw differently. I wonder about what areas in my life that I feel inadequate and unprepared for... Could I see my potential in a different light? If God wants to use me, certainly He'll prepare me for it and equip me for it. That's kind of exciting...

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at August 1, 2005 09:16 AM