I’m reading Oswald Chambers’ challenging book Baffled To Fight Better. In this book, Chambers is commenting on the life of Job as portrayed in the Bible. His thesis is that we can fight better when we‘re totally baffled on how to fight on our own—when we‘re baffled, we can only turn to God.
Today I read Chambers‘ statement, “Real suffering comes when a man‘s statement of his belief in God is divorced from his personal relationship to God.”
This reminded me of what this important principle: “The man with an experience is never at the mercy of the man with an argument.” Or I would paraphrase this, “The man with an intimate relationship with Jesus is never baffled when things don‘t turn out as he planned.”
I‘ve been going through some baffling times—circumstances aren‘t coming together the way I would have planned them. But during this trying time, my relationship with Jesus is growing more and more precious to me.
Where pessimism could reign I am finding greater passion.
What have you discovered in your baffling times?
Craig T. Owens 
March 17, 2009 at 3:49 pm
When Bill Decker died I was completly baffled by what God was doing. I didn’t know God at that time you know very well. I believe that God wanted me to give up and let him have control of what I thought I had control of. He has taken alot from me since then, cigerettes, drugs, adultery. In return he has given me alot of things also love, health, family, friendships that I won’t let go of and Himself most importantly. I myself am very glad to be baffled by the circumtances. Thank you Pastor Craig for being there, you are a good man and a great Pastor.
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March 17, 2009 at 8:22 pm
That He is. No matter what rages around me, He is… all I need, all I can ever hope for, all I can depend upon — He is!
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