Rev. Claudia & Dr. Timothy Emerick Missionaries of the Cross
I Corinthians 1:18
Crooked Made Straight
“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight…” – Isaiah 45:2.
We live in a time when we want instant answers. We have been influenced and shaped by the mindset and attitudes of the world. However, when we become Christians, we are no longer friends of the world. We must think, speak, and live differently. The world system is opposed to God, and though we live in it, it is not our home.
There are times when we all face difficulties, but God gives us a promise of great hope. We must understand that we are not tourists in this world. We are on a journey toward wholeness and completeness, and God is not in a hurry. He values quality over quantity. Many of our problems come from living wrongly, eating poorly, spending unwisely, failing to save, and neglecting to give. Then we want God to quickly rescue us from the messes we have created. We want everything to happen in a hurry. When we fail to put God first in every area of our lives, disorder follows.
Sometimes people resist change because it is painful. True change requires responsive behavior and obedience. Common areas of struggle for many people include marriages, finances, relations, speech and attitude, a victim mindset, and broken promises. Christian discipleship has often been reduced to a tourist mentality. We treat God as a tour guide rather than the Lord of our lives. We behave as if His commandments are merely suggestions. A true disciple devotes their life to serving their Master. God has given us a guidebook-the Bible. All truth is found in Christ Jesus (John 14:5-6).
If we choose the path of discipleship and live as pilgrims, we will eventually see the wisdom of God unfold in our lives. It may take time and perseverance, but God is faithful.
All we need to do is remain in faith and walk in the truth of God’s Word. There are also areas of our lives where we have been harshly judged, condemned, or mistreated by others-God will straighten out. Even in areas where we feel we will never overcome; God promises to make the crooked places straight as we repent and seek His guidance.
Understand that God is working behind the scenes to make things right. He is preparing for victory, even when we cannot yet see it. God assures us that all things work together for the good of those who love Him. Rather than blaming God in our difficulties, we are called to trust Him amid every circumstance allowing Him to make all things straight.