What is the Lord Teaching You Now?

For this article, I asked students anonymously on Instagram what God has been teaching them recently and these were some of the responses I got. It was so fun to see how the Lord is working through different people.

Treating people with kindness no matter the situation:

This is a precious thing to be learning from God. We are called to love others. We are told in John, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” Jesus lived a life serving others and showing kindness to those around Him, and we are told to do the same. Serving others and reflecting the character of Jesus provides an opportunity to share Him with those around us and let them know of the abundance available through Christ. 

To wait:

Waiting is similar to patience, but they are not quite the same. Waiting is the result of having patience. When we commit to being patient, then the waiting begins. Humbly waiting on the Lord and His timing provides our spirit with deeper peace and rest. When I am feeling a need to wait, I find it helpful to just sit quietly for at least five minutes a day. No music playing, no phone to distract me. Just me sitting still, connecting with my father. It helps me slow down a little bit and gives me time to truly wait for the Lord and what He may be saying to me. I recommend trying this and seeing what God is telling you in the midst of your waiting. 

That he listens to me, my heart: and he knows me:
It’s astounding how much God knows about us because He is our creator. Psalm 139 is one of my favorite passages and reading it is almost like receiving a giant hug from God because it talks about how he has known us from the beginning and is with us always. He listens to us because we are His children, He knows what’s on our hearts because He is our friend, and He knows who we are because He created us. At times it may seem as though we don’t actually know who we are or who we are going to develop into. But, we can find peace knowing that God understands exactly who we are and who we are made to be. “O Lord, you have searched me and known me!” (V1) “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (V15-16) “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” (V4)

That everything happens for a reason and to be okay to not be able to control everything: 

It takes a lot to give up control and trust in God’s sovereignty. It is extremely easy to want to handle everything ourselves and solve problems based on our own knowledge. Satan feeds us lies that say we can do it on our own and we are better off without having to trust God, but that is so far from the truth. We will never be able to create a life better than what God has in store for us. Keeping that in mind will help us release the tight grip we have on control. 

To trust in his plan even though I don’t understand it or even like it: 

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11) This verse has persevered with me for more than half of my life. I often tell it with my testimony because it reveals the obviousness of God’s hand working in and through things. We are unable to see the full pictures of our lives and this addresses the control problem. But again, the answer is to trust in the goodness of God. It’s valuable that you are learning to trust even when you may not like what God has for you at the moment. But, He will use that discomfort for something incredible, whether it be to grow you closer to Him, use your faithfulness as an example to others, or to show you that He is enough for you despite what may be going on in your life.

To be kind: 

Treating others properly allows us to live in unity with one another and not in anger. I struggle with anger sometimes and it’s not always the simplest thing to be kind to others when we want to think about ourselves first. It requires a decision and a choice. When we put others first, it also affects us positively. Showing kindness to others increases the serotonin and dopamine levels in our bodies and leaves us feeling happy and content. By reflecting God’s example of kindness to others, we are also being kind to ourselves. 

The need to come to him in silence and humility to just enjoy his presence: 

Coming to God with a heart posture of humility truly portrays to God that we are there solely for Him and to just be with Him. Ephesians 3:4-12 is a prayer from Paul for spiritual strength and he begins it by saying “For this reason I bow my knees before the father”. My pastor described that kneeling before the father is not just physical (because not everyone can physically kneel) but it is also an attitude of “kneeling” and humbly approaching the Lord. Acknowledging His incredible power through silence and awe is the gateway to fully enjoying His presence. 

Contentment: 

I know that so many people, including myself, have dealt with this. It takes so much strength and faith to be completely satisfied wherever you are. This topic reminds me of the song “Jireh”, where the lyrics say “I will be content in every circumstance, you are Jireh, you are enough.” When I am in a situation I don’t necessarily feel content in, I will pray these lyrics to God and ask Him to help me be content. Even if I am not yet satisfied with my situation, just saying these words reminds me of the fact that God truly is enough, no matter how I may be feeling at a certain time.