President's Page
By LeAnn Kenedy

A Light in the Distance

If you read the Real-News Review with any regularity, then you more than likely have Romans 8:28 memorized by now:  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

We all have them—those seasons in life where we have been thrown a “curve ball” from out of nowhere and we wonder how we found ourselves in a situation like this.  My family has been in the midst of a trial for the last 5 months that has been testing our faith and developing our perseverance.  Wisdom has become my heart’s cry.  I acknowledged that I was utterly helpless to help in the situation, and asked God for a sensible and prudent mindset in which to act practically wise in the best interest of others.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:24, that if we hear his words and put them into practice, we would be like a wise man who built his house on a rock . . . rains would come, winds would blow, yet our house would not fall.  We’ve cried out for understanding, insight, and that God’s will would prevail as critical decision had to be made.  We heard the still small voice within the inner chambers of our hearts and his thundering voice in the storm saying this is the way, walk in it.  Yes, our faith has been challenged.  Talk about “stepping out. . .”  But God is so good; his supernatural grace gives us the strength to do what needs to be done.  There has been temptation to “second guess,” but God tells us that when we ask for wisdom that we are to believe and not doubt.  When we know we have heard him, we must stand firm.  God’s Word says that he is sovereign and I have chosen to believe God, even though at times complete understanding has yet to be revealed.

In scripture, I always find my way back to the wisdom that is the insight into the true nature of things—the knowing in my heart—not necessarily about what to do, but how the experience could be used by God to continue to change me and my family more into the image of Christ.  Folks, it all comes down to JESUS and reflecting his glory!  To those God has called, Jesus is the power and wisdom of God.  As we draw near to him in faith something supernatural happens.  Something we can’t really explain in human words, for the ways of God are spiritually discerned.  To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.  The Spirit of the Lord rests upon Christ—the Spirit of council and of power.  It truly is in Jesus that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. 

Yes, we will have to deal with issues—yours won’t necessarily be the same as mine—but in the midst of the practical working out of our deliverance in cooperation with God, the heart of the matter is ultimately our insight into the true nature of the issue on a spiritual level with an end result of being more like Jesus.  God uses circumstances to move us to a new place in our journey and to change us. 

In the midst of it all, I am witnessing answers to prayers offered years ago regarding my family.  God continues to give me evidence that he is sovereign, he is in control, his ways are higher than my ways and his thoughts are higher than mine, and he works all things together for good—for all that are involved in a particular trial—if they love him and are called according to his purpose.  My family is being delivered; we are experiencing God’s present power to deliver us through our trial, and in the process we are all getting closer to God, and we can’t help but be changed.  Who but God can use the “rough times” to strengthen our faith, develop our perseverance, bring about answers to prayer and draw us intimately closer to himself all at the same time?!  Let me tell you. . . the rains still come down, the wind still blows furiously at times, but praise and glory to Jesus, our family is still standing.  And I believe—I know—I see a ray of light in the distance.

II encourage you to tell others what God is doing on your behalf.  Whether you find yourselves in a trial or in a time of reprieve, tell of his excellent greatness; tell of what good things he is doing for you and how he is working all things together for your good.