Connecting the Dots
by Annalene Holtzhausen
Sometimes we get caught up in the many details of our lives and the lives of those close to us. It’s in these moments that we often try to force things in a certain direction, usually with the intention of things working out the way we think they should! We think a little intervention from our side is all that’s needed to get things going – especially when we don’t seem to see anything changing.
Recently I’ve been aware of a situation where I would just love to ‘interfere’ by sending an email to the person I think could help a friend of mine a little. It actually was only a thought, but I clearly felt the Lord saying to me that He would connect the dots, and that I was not to interfere in this situation. Every time I think about it, the same words come to my mind: “I will connect the dots.” So I am standing back and trusting the Lord for His way in this.
This doesn’t mean that we must never do anything or act upon a situation; only that we should stop and hear from the Lord first. Sometimes He leads us to act or help in a situation immediately, but there are times when He asks us to just wait a while. There are times when He just wants us to allow Him to do it His way. When we interfere, we often get in the way of what the Lord’s doing in someone’s life.
We should always ask ourselves what our intentions are when getting involved. Acting out of fear, or trying to control a situation or a person, aren’t godly reasons. There are times when we see our loved ones going through a challenging time, and we just want to force things in the right direction. Maybe they’re battling through a certain issue and searching for answers. I’ve come to realise that the Lord works deeply in our lives through the tough times – especially when we allow Him into our situations and put our trust in Him for the outcome.
In Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 we read that there’s a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens – ‘a time to search and a time to give up … a time to be silent and a time to speak’ (verse 6 & 7).
It’s hard to watch people going through a rough time, but we need to realise that the Lord’s in control, and won’t abandon them. Colossians 1:17 is our promise that the Lord will hold us together: ‘And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together’. Let’s choose to trust the Lord with every detail of our lives and also the lives of others. ‘And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work’ (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Prayer: Dear Father, I bring the people in my life before You today, and I choose to place them, and the situations they’re facing, into Your safe hands. Show me how to come alongside them and to be the support You want me to be for them, without trying to take over. Give me the right words, and show me when to act. I also choose to trust You with every detail of my life. Thank You that You promise to connect the dots and bring Your plan for each of our lives into place. Amen.
Annalene Holtzhausen is on the Associate Team at Ellel, Africa. She is married to Renier, who introduced her to Ellel Ministries. She is a full-time mother to their two boys. Her passion is for the restoration of women’s hearts and for people to find their worth in the Lord.
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