{"id":6507,"date":"2024-11-19T14:31:11","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T19:31:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6507"},"modified":"2025-05-31T19:01:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T23:01:11","slug":"god-at-work-no-trespassing-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6507","title":{"rendered":"(In the Moments) God at Work (No Trespassing)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When I was younger, I had an idea of how I thought life would turn out, or at least how I hoped it would. I expected good health, peaceful relationships and smooth circumstances. I figured things might turn out differently, but what I didn\u2019t realize is how much I\u2019d tied my sense of well-being to how my life was going. As a result, when the inevitable, unexpected twists occurred, I found myself on shaky ground, searching for something lasting to fill my need for joy. Perhaps you can relate.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a mid-spring morning. I take a sip of my favorite kind of coffee, strong and dark, with a bit of stevia and cream. I\u2019m feeling the sun\u2019s warmth cutting through the new day coolness, but it\u2019s not high enough to blaze over the leafy green canopy. There\u2019s no break in the constant symphony of birds singing above and in the forest beyond.<\/p>\n<p>Like the birds, I want to celebrate each new day joyfully, trusting God to guide me along life\u2019s unexpected paths. I know He\u2019s with me, but in one heart breaking situation, He\u2019s erected a \u2018God at Work, No Trespassing\u2019 sign and He wants me to honor it. He\u2019ll invite me in when He\u2019s ready. In the meantime, my job is to wait and pray.<\/p>\n<p>A neighbor, walking her dogs, sees me and walks down the driveway to chat. Jack, our Australian Shepherd who has no tail, wiggles his butt in delight. While I try and keep Jack from jumping on her little schipperke, we talk about how awful the Yankees looked in the World Series.<\/p>\n<p>When she leaves, I continue my ponderings.<\/p>\n<p>Years ago, I denied painful parts of life. I&#8217;d feel what I could and stuff the rest, keeping on going with life best I could. Now I\u2019m learning to better manage my emotions. As a result, I see how denying emotional pain desensitizes my heart and hinders my ability to recognize God\u2019s nearness.<\/p>\n<p>If I\u2019m to truly rejoice with the birds, I need to rehearse the steps I believe God has given me to honor His \u2018No Trespassing\u2019 sign in this very hard situation.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\u2019t pretend all is well. Acknowledge my life differs from what I hoped. Accept the losses and feel the pain.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>Lord, I call You near in the depths of my grief. You\u2019re the God of all comfort. Sooth my pain with the Joy of Your presence.<\/em><em> [1]<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Celebrate the fact that God has seen me through tough times and trust He will do it again. <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>Lord, You\u2019ve been so faithful through so many difficulties. Looking back, I see how You\u2019ve used these trials for me to give up trying to live life on my own and to trust You.<\/em><em> [2]<\/em><em> The eternal work You\u2019ve done in my soul makes these hard situations worth it. You&#8217;ve strengthened me emotionally and spiritually. Thank You Lord.<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Catch myself when I&#8217;m feeling bad about what I can\u2019t change. This is in the Lord\u2019s hands. Decide to stop trying to figure things out. <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>Lord, I trust You to invite me into this difficulty when You\u2019re ready. I don\u2019t want to thwart what you\u2019re doing. In the meantime, I trust You\u2019re at work in the lives of all involved in ways I may never understand.<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Enjoy the beauty on this side of the &#8216;No Trespassing&#8217; sign. Even though this situation is one I never expected, it doesn\u2019t make my life incomplete. It\u2019s easy for me to feel like a failure, but in Christ, I am complete.<em> [3]<\/em> I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God.<em> [4<\/em><em>] <span style=\"color: #800080;\">Lord, in You I\u2019m okay, even if this situation is never resolved. I\u2019m free to enjoy life\u2019s moments with you in spite of, and in the midst of, any unexpected situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; (<strong>Psalm 73:28a NASB<\/strong>)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Challenge<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Perhaps you have a similar situation, where God is at work in some very hard relationship, job situation, or illness. As far as you know, you&#8217;ve done all you can to &#8220;fix&#8221; it and God is asking you to wait and pray. This posture is extremely hard.<\/p>\n<p>In this, and other situations like it, we must fully surrender to God who knows it all.\u00a0 He has entrusted these troubles to us, that we should handle them with care and grow. We draw near to Him, God of all comfort, and we travel through the pain with Him. He is at work in all situations to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ, His Son. Though times like these threaten to discourage us, we have the joy of His presence throughout. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>(See Psalm 16:11)<\/em><\/span> We know He&#8217;s at work and this gives us great hope, even in our pain. [5]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. (<strong>Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB<\/strong>)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Prayer<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>Lord, my heart is ready to be glad. I want to always rejoice in You, even when life throws me a nasty curve ball. Empower me to keep my eyes on You, always. This hard reality has unexpectedly strengthened my faith. I draw closer to You every day because of it. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>You are enough, even if life doesn\u2019t work out as I had hoped.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>My life is oriented from things above where I\u2019m seated with You. My comfort isn\u2019t paramount. Please continue Your work while I wait.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>While I wait, I follow Your command to love others as You&#8217;ve loved me. Show me who You want me to love today. I in Your love and complete joy. [6] <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Yet those who wait for the Lord<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Will gain new strength;<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">They will mount up with wings like eagles,<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">They will run and not get tired,<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">They will walk and not become weary. <strong>(Isaiah 40:31 NASB)<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>[1] II Corinthians 1:3-5<\/p>\n<p>[2] II Corinthians 1:8-9<\/p>\n<p>[3] Colossians 2:9-10<\/p>\n<p>[4] Colossians 3:3<\/p>\n<p>[5] Romans 8:28-29<\/p>\n<p>[6] John 15:9-12<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Other posts in our series<\/span> <strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">In the Moments<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=2612\">As Sea Gulls Fly<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=2686\">It is Finished<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=3332\">Behold the Moments<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=3674\">Tranquility<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=5049\">Stop Striving<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=5283\">Simplicity In Christ<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=5980\">What is Good<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6166\">Yet Will I Rejoice<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6247\">Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6380\">Exploring Grace and Joy together<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6396\">Stay Present My Friends<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6417\">Quiddity. It Could Change Your Life<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6479\">The Cake Maker&#8217;s Blunder<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\"><em>Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\"><em>Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-36 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/10407876_10205268823978740_56971566099135395_n-1-e1454540429213.jpg?zoom=1.5&amp;resize=200%2C200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/10407876_10205268823978740_56971566099135395_n-1-e1454540429213.jpg?zoom=1.5&amp;resize=200%2C200\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Robby Buck<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Nonfiction books by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-6224\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/61j-StomF6L._SY522_.jpg?resize=232%2C300\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/61j-StomF6L._SY522_.jpg?resize=232%2C300&amp;ssl=1 232w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/61j-StomF6L._SY522_.jpg?w=404&amp;ssl=1 404w\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn\u2019t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God\u2019s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It\u2019s not just a good idea, it\u2019s vital to our journey as human beings.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0DCGP89HC?psc=1&amp;ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details\">Rhythms of Joy<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Beyond-Time-could-change-event\/dp\/179035899X\">Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-6367\" src=\"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Beyond-Time-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Beyond-Time-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Beyond-Time.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Hope-Remains-Sequel-Beyond-Time\/dp\/197345940X\/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1547672424&amp;sr=1-8&amp;keywords=Hope+Remains\">Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-6370\" src=\"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/714PopD3bcL._SY522_-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/714PopD3bcL._SY522_-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/714PopD3bcL._SY522_.jpg 348w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Please Check out the\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/cola-city-podcast\/id1670200547\">Cola City Podcast<\/a>\u00a0. Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The author reflects on the contrast between youthful expectations of life and the reality of unforeseen challenges, leading to a search for lasting joy. <\/p>\n<p>A spring morning serves as a backdrop for insights on accepting painful realities, celebrating God\u2019s faithfulness, and trusting His guidance. The importance of acknowledging grief and surrendering control to God is emphasized. <\/p>\n<p>The author recognizes that emotional and spiritual growth often emerges from hardships. <\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, true joy is grounded in God&#8217;s presence, encouraging a mindset of hope and resilience, reminding us that life&#8217;s difficulties serve a higher purpose in our spiritual journey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6539,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1196],"tags":[3032,1207,478,584,696,1649,849,1168,1142,1105,1216,1218,968,1206,1201,36,120,1210,549,1199,1217,650,86,1200,271,7,1213,1203,1211,1205,1527,1202,655,89,1197,307,774,15,3292,1198,1208,611,1209,1215,1212,1214,84,49,1063,1204,356,1529],"class_list":["post-6507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trusting-god-through-very-hard-times","tag-australian-shepherd","tag-birds-singing","tag-coffee","tag-colossians-29-10","tag-colossians-31-4","tag-comfort","tag-complete-in-christ","tag-cream","tag-emotional-pain","tag-emotions","tag-eternal-work","tag-ferocious-prayer","tag-flowers","tag-glad","tag-god-at-work","tag-god-of-all-comfort","tag-good-friday","tag-green-canopy","tag-grief","tag-hard-times","tag-hidden-in-christ","tag-ii-corinthians-13-5","tag-ii-corinthians-18-9","tag-isaiah-4031","tag-john-159-12","tag-joy","tag-joy-of-your-presence","tag-lily","tag-melodious-joy","tag-need-for-joy","tag-new-york-yankees","tag-no-trespassing","tag-pain","tag-prayer","tag-proverbs-35-6","tag-psalm-1611","tag-psalm-7328","tag-rejoicing","tag-schipperke","tag-shade","tag-shaky-ground","tag-spring","tag-stevia","tag-strengthen-faith","tag-suns-warmth","tag-tough-times","tag-trials","tag-trust","tag-trusting-god","tag-unexpected-twists","tag-wait-on-god","tag-world-series"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6507"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7033,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6507\/revisions\/7033"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}