Lord, I promise I will not balk any longer at Your “circles.” In my Western way of thinking, I have always assumed that God moved in a straight line. But years of studying God’s Word and ways have taught me that He always moves in a circle. That is why God is often mysterious, perplexing, and dark to me. Once I learn the secret of His circles, all becomes clear.
Look at Joseph. God promised him power and authority in his dreams; yet instead of directly fulfilling the promises, God led him to slavery and to prison, the very opposite. Why? Because God’s dealings with us, like the lines of space He created in the universe, are circular.
Even Jesus was treated in this circular way. He left the Father’s home to go out to mankind, down through the cross to the tomb, then back up and home again. This history is clear to everyone. What is not clear is that God uses the same route for all of us.
Why does God deal with us in circles? Why does He promise us things, then deny them? Why does He cause us to hope, then give us disappointment?
Because God is in the business of making saints, not programs. To develop spiritually involves outgrowing things that are no good for us and implanting things that are necessary. That takes time.
We are all on a circle, at one point or another. The apogee is the most distressful time because there everything seems to have gone wrong. But that point, also, is the greatest time to trust because it starts the turn back. Lord, let me never give up too soon!
What encourages me immensely is that God constantly supervises my journey on the circle. At whatever point I may be, He knows. His determination is to bring me “home.” And that will be my greatest exulting!
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Daily with the King 