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Written by Dennis Hollinger, a contemporary professor and ethicist.

In the aftermath of September 11, many have yearned for certainty regarding God’s actions on that day. Where was God, and what was God up to? It’s only natural to seek certainty in the divine realm, for it brings consolation in the face of threat and evil in our world. As a result, some believers have felt the need to make pronouncements regarding God’s involvement in this terrorist act; with certitude they assert judgment, causality, or other kinds of divine action. There are many things about God’s actions and character that we know with confidence. For example, we know that God is personal, triune, and simultaneously transcendent and immanent. We know that He is a God of mercy who wants to redeem us and who has taken the initiative to reveal Himself to us in the written Word, the Bible, and the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. But there are some things about divine actions that we just do not know, and this is especially true of the ways of God in human history—His judgments, actions, and permissions within the world. We need to affirm some degree of divine mystery that we will never fully comprehend and capture within the limits of finitude.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [Isaiah 55:9]

Written by Max Lucado, a contemporary pastor and author. This is an excerpt from his book “Start With Prayer.”

Dear Father, from the beginning of time, You have planned the path Your people would take. Your infinite mind thought of me long before I was born. I am humbled by Your incredible love. I struggle with doubts and fear about my future. I don’t trust You nearly as much as I should. Please forgive me and reinforce my faith in You. Help me understand and believe that You are in control and have a good plan for me, my family, and my career. Bless my family today. Help them know that all things rest in Your hands and that You always have their best interests in mind. Don’t let them fear the future. Thank You for ordering our steps and guiding our way. I am thankful to know that Your thoughts are always for our good. In Your Son’s name, amen.

The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.  [Psalm 33:11–12]

Written by Andrew Murray (1828-1917), a South African writer, teacher, and pastor.

We must not only think of our waiting upon God, but also of what is more wonderful still, of God’s waiting upon us. The vision of Him waiting on us will give new impulse and inspiration to our waiting upon Him. It will give us unspeakable confidence that our waiting cannot be in vain. Let us seek even now, at this moment, in the spirit of waiting on God, to find out something of what it means. He has inconceivably glorious purposes concerning every one of His children. And you ask, “How is it, if He waits to be gracious, that even after I come and wait upon Him, He does not give the help I seek, but waits on longer and longer?” God is a wise husbandman, “who waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it.” He cannot gather the fruit till it is ripe. He knows when we are spiritually ready to receive the blessing to our profit and His glory. Waiting in the sunshine of His love is what will ripen the soul for His blessing. Waiting under the cloud of trial, that breaks in showers of blessings, is as needful. Be assured that if God waits longer than you could wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious. God waited four thousand years, till the fullness of time, ere He sent His Son. Our times are in His hands; He will avenge His elect speedily; He will make haste for our help, and not delay one hour too long.

And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you… blessed are all they that wait for him [Isaiah 30:18]

Written by Ken Boa, a contemporary author and founder of Reflections Ministry. This is an excerpt from his book “Handbook to God’s Promises.”

Agitated—stirred up—describes the human condition at times. This describes what a chemist does when she combines elements to form a new compound—she agitates them in a beaker, whirling them violently together so that they lose their old identity and gain a new one. Human beings often get agitated, especially on the eve of new undertakings. A six-year-old is agitated on the eve of his first day in first grade; an eighteen-year-old is agitated as she packs for her freshman year at college; a twenty-nine-year-old is agitated as he leaves the security of a comfortable job to start his own business; a seventy-nine-year-old is agitated as she is rolled on a gurney into a surgery that might, or might not, extend her life. As human emotions crash against one another, we need someone to come alongside and answer our “twenty questions”: “Will it be okay?” “Do I have what I need?” “Why am I scared?” “Will you go with me?” “What if I fail?” “How do I reach you?” “Am I doing the right thing?” We need a parent, a friend, a mentor, a doctor, to turn off the agitator in us and allow our emotions to settle—fear over here, despair over there, joy and peace at the head of the line. Most of all, we need God to give us rest. God has been giving rest to agitated souls since souls discovered their emotions. A great example is how He calmed Moses on the eve of a giant step in his life: leading the children of Israel to the Promised Land of Canaan…The answer God gave to Moses is the answer He gives to us: “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” God is the only One who can answer our questions. In His presence, our emotions find their rest.

[Moses said to the Lord] “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people .”  The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” [Exodus 33:13-14]

Written by Karrie Garcia, a contemporary author and life coach. This is an excerpt from her book “Free and Fully Alive.”

Our spirits long for the goodness and intimacy they were created to experience. They long for the wonder of the unknown and the mystery of what could be. Our spirits seem to know something our brains don’t — that we were made for abundant life — but our brains won’t let us engage because of fear of disappointment or failure or rejection. It’s our spirits that keep leading us to the reckless hope of trying again. All it takes to keep going is a willingness to be honest, to invite God into the story, and to allow some trustworthy people to witness your story in a way that enables your heart to be seen and held. Something dynamic and supernatural begins to happen. Life starts to have color. The puzzle pieces of your broken story come together. You are awakened to a God who sees you in the hard and the holy, and you realize you are loved.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. [Psalm 43:5]

Written by Mark Roberts, a contemporary author and speaker.

After creating the universe in six days, God set aside a day for rest. God’s action on the seventh day—or, better yet, God’s decision to cease working—is foundational for our understanding and practice of rest. If God rested, then surely those of us created in God’s image should also rest. But God’s example creates a compelling case for the importance and even the necessity of rest… God’s action on the seventh day – or, better yet, God’s decision to cease acting – is foundational for our understanding and practice of rest. If God rested, then surely those of us created in God’s image should also rest. We may not yet know why. But God’s example creates a compelling case for the importance and even the necessity of rest. 

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. [Genesis 2:1-3]

Written by Sabrina Dawson,  a contemporary writer. This is an excerpt from the book “A Beautiful Year in the Bible.”

Life is loud, busy, and chaotic. Often, we assume that the loudest voice in a crowd carries the most truth or influence. Yet, in contrast to our noisy world, God chooses to speak in whispers…To hear a whisper, we must consciously quiet ourselves, draw near, and listen with intention. In a world that continually pushes us to move faster and shout louder, God invites us to slow down, pause, and truly be present.  Waiting for God’s hushed tones teaches us to be still and attentive, humbly waiting to be heard rather than talking over anyone else…The quietness of God may seem subtle to us, but it holds immense transformative power like a persistent flow of running water, which over time carves canyons out of mountains…Sometimes we become so busy asking God for answers that we forget to listen; we miss what God is saying to us gently…To be still and to search for God in quietness reorients us to the blessings and faithfulness God has shown us and reminds us that, no matter the circumstances, God’s goodness and righteousness will have the final say.

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” [1 Kings 19:12-13]

Written by Kristine Brown, a contemporary writer.

As a culture, we’ve grown accustomed to introducing ourselves with a short list of titles that describe who we are or what we do. I might offer my name and follow that with: I’m a teacher, a pastor’s wife, or a writer. Other times, I might say I’m a mom or Mimi, depending on the situation. I’ve learned to be quick about tossing out a few details about my life that define me. Maybe because it helps me connect with the other person. Or, if I’m being totally honest, maybe it makes me feel like I’ve done something worthwhile … like my life is significant because of who I am.  But in all the ways I like to identify myself, I never start with the single most important detail that defines who I am, “Hello, my name is Kristine. I am a child of God!” Even saying it aloud right now as I write the words down, I catch myself sitting up a bit taller, lifting my chin a bit higher. There’s something about reminding ourselves that we are children of God that will change our attitude. When our attitude lifts, so does our confidence. I’ve often imagined how people would react if I introduced myself that way, yet I never have the courage to try it. Because most days, I don’t live like I am confident in my role as God’s daughter. I face life’s challenges from a position of defeat rather than from a place of victory through Jesus. I let the distractions and cares of this world weigh on my shoulders until the pressure can be visibly seen in my posture. But that’s not how God wants his precious children to live… We can remember who God says we are, even when life wears us down. We can stand with confidence before the mirror, ready for any challenge, and boldly claim, “I am a child of God!” We are God’s holy people, you and me, His rich and glorious inheritance. Shoulders back and chin up, my friend in the faith. Remember who God says you are.

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. [Ephesians 1:18]

Written by Henri Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian.  This is an excerpt from his book “Making All Things New.”

It is clear that we are usually surrounded by so much outer noise that it is hard to truly hear our God when he is speaking to us. We have often become deaf, unable to know when God calls us and unable to understand in which direction he calls us. Thus, our lives have become absurd. In the word absurd we find the Latin word surdus, which means ​“deaf.” A spiritual life requires discipline because we need to learn to listen to God, who constantly speaks but whom we seldom hear. When, however, we learn to listen, our lives become obedient lives. The word obedient comes from the Latin word audire, which means ​“listening.” A spiritual discipline is necessary in order to move slowly from an absurd to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen to our God and follow his guidance. Jesus’ life was a life of obedience. He was always listening to the Father, always attentive to his voice, always alert for his directions. Jesus was ​“all ear.” That is true prayer: being all ear for God. The core of all prayer is indeed listening, obediently standing in the presence of God.

Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. [Deuteronomy 8:6]

Written by the Lead Like Jesus team, an organization founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges that promotes a transformational leadership model based on following Jesus.

Lord, thank You for the opportunities that today holds. Large or small, we offer them to You. We want to embrace every opportunity to be a reflection of Jesus, humbly depending on the power of Your Spirit to work in and through us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. [Psalm 118:24]