The Wonder of it All: Three Steps to Wonder Well

One of my go to phrases when I am pondering something is, “I wonder…” I wonder why the washing machine won’t balance, the dog will only go outside when dad asks, or when my Amazon cart will ever be empty.  My greatest ponderance, however, is not on the ordinary, but the extraordinary: I wonder how I’ve made it this far. Maybe you wonder how you’ve made it this far too or even if you will make it. Wonder with me today to find the hope wonder uncovers.

Wonder

I reflect over the course of my life and wonder (literally) how I am doing anything that I am doing today. I recognize that I should not be typing this right now if it were up to the world’s ruling. Yet, her I am. I am living out dreams God placed on my heart when I was sixteen: to help others. And no wonder will ever make the life I am living now make sense…except for one: God’s goodness.

God’s goodness cannot be explained, and it is almost indescribable. It is a wonder that mere words cannot fully encapsulate; however, with what words I do have, I can state that the wonder of God’s love, goodness, holiness, mercifulness, and sovereignty is why I have made it this far. There is nothing within me that brought me out of the pit I was in. The only way I found my feet on solid ground was my Savior.

The wonder of his love will never make sense. But I willing to accept it. It is why I have breath in my lungs today. For some of us, though, the wonder of the Psalmist is our own, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1-2). We are faced with devastation, pain, disillusionment, and more that the only thing we wonder is “Where are you God?”

 These next steps will help us all as we wrestle at times with the wonder of God. Maybe they will allow us all as we traverse this life to know that no matter what is happening, God’s goodness, mercy, love, forgiveness, truth, hope and salvation are always available to us.

Wondering Well

1)        Crying out

God is not surprised by our doubt, anger, sadness, _______ (and you fill in the blank). Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble…” No questions about it. And God desires us in those moments of trouble to cry out to him.

David was a master at crying out to God. If he felt it, he cried it out! Many of the Psalms are David’s plea to God to help him as he faces despair, defeat, and disillusionment. God is not scared of our wondering where he is. His grace and mercy are greater and stronger than our wonder “Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1)

2)        Acknowledging

So many times I have tried to pretend like life was good, when there were fires all around me or I, myself, was lit up like a dumpster fire! I was so scared to acknowledge what was happening because if I did, what would that mean about me and my relationship with God. Yet, God in his patience brought me to a place where acknowledging was my only option.

As I sat with tears streaming down my face and desperation in my soul, it was there I found freedom. Once I acknowledged what was truly happening and where I was emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, God could move, and freedom could be found. The same is true for you, friend. When we quit pretending, we give God the opportunity to draw “close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

3)        Receiving

As I write this, I am concluding my time at a beautiful conference with the American Association of Christian Counselors. Prior to coming I was filled with some anxiety and worry over some longings that I wanted to pursue and wondered they would come to fruition. I was trying to release it to God and trust his timing, and, as you know, that can be so HARD!

I wondered when the longings of my heart would be filled, when I would be able to pour out so much of what drives my passions. The first night of the conference, the speaker addressed that wonder and God said, “I’m speaking. Listen.” The speaker reminded us that appreciation for where we are now is so important to hear the next steps of God. Furthermore, he stated, “Wounds position and prepare us” to come before our audience. In those moments I received the Holy Spirit reminding me that God is in control, and he will position and prepare me for what is ahead.

This is true for us all. God is positioning and preparing us to do his work and receive the desires of his heart. We are his children, and he has not forgotten or dismissed any of us. He hears our cries, our petitions, our longings. However, are we preparing ourselves to receive his answer?

Final thoughts

God allows our wonder. He allwos us to grapple with the questions, not because he wants us to suffer; rather, he wants us to grow and learn that he is with us always. God shows his acceptance of us this through his love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and truth. Therefore, let us not grow weary as we wrestle with our wonders, but let us “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Psalm 78:4)

Challenge questions:

1)    Write your wonders: wonder of God, your circumstances, your desires, etc.

2)    Practice the steps and observe how each can help you reach a place of peace.