This past weekend I’ve been reading a book by Laura Story-When God Doesn’t Fix-It. It’s the story of what happened when her husband of one year had a brain tumor that has resulted in long-term (lifetime at this juncture of the book) disability, particularly of his short term memory. It parallels what Tripp talk about in the devotion:

“Could it be that the ‘care’ that we often cry out for is not the care we really need?”

No one would want to experience what Laura and her husband have. She cried out for healing for him. But healing as she wanted was not to come. What she has learned is the principle Tripp talk about here: While we may not like God’s way of working, His ways are most effective. As with the Israelites, He brought trouble to bring their hearts back to Him, so He often does the same for us. While I may not like what He has done, is doing, or may do, He always has a purpose: to draw me to Him. This is especially true when it comes to sin. He doesn’t tolerate it so His desire is for me to be His alone. So His work in me is to turn me to Him.

“Father, as Laura has learned, so must I: Your work is not always what I want. It is always what you know is best. Draw me to you. Help me to see with your eyes, not my own, what it is you want me to learn.”

Here is the song Laura wrote which came out of her brokenness and learning: https://youtu.be/Cd6J6Wgnv4M