“Often,” Stan began, “if I’m paying close enough attention, I get to see an important lesson for my faith walk in even a few words in the Bible.”
“You have something for me about that?” I asked.
“I do,” Stan replied. “In the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia he expressed some frustration at how some of the people in the church had turned against his teaching.”
Continuing, Stan said, “At one point Paul wrote, ‘I am perplexed about you.’ That struck me as a valuable lesson.”
“That Paul was perplexed with some people a long time ago has some relevance to you today?” I responded. “How so?”
“I don’t want to hear the Holy Spirit say that He’s perplexed about me,” Stan said.
“And why might the Holy Spirit say that?” I asked.
“He might say it, and actually has many times,” Stan replied, “when I wander away from the truth and pursue what I want to do apart from what God has for me.”
Continuing, he said, “The Holy Spirit often has grounds to say to me, in essence, ‘After all you have been given, and after all that you have been shown, you still walk away to follow your own way, refusing to deny yourself. That perplexes Me!’”
“You’re right,” I replied, “not a good thing to hear from the Holy Spirit.”
“But,” I continued, “if the Holy Spirit does say that, do you have an answer or something to do in response?”
“I do,” Stan said, “and it involves confession, repentance, and getting back on track so I am no longer perplexing and the Holy Spirit is no longer perplexed by me!”
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I am perplexed about you. Galatians 4:20.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for all you have done to provide me with the assurance of salvation through your free and gracious gift. Thank you, too, for the opportunity to know you and your Son more deeply in an ever-growing relationship while you keep me on this side of eternity. I confess that way too often my relationship with you is perplexing to you. In spite of all you have done and in spite of all you are willing to do in and through me, I wander away on my own, seeking to do what I want to do apart from you. Please forgive me for perplexing you in those ways. And please, Father, help me in following your lead into the relationship you intend so I no longer perplex you. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you think you have every perplexed God by things you have thought, said, and/or done? If not, maybe you need to think more deeply! If you do think you have perplexed God, what was that all about? Do you think God expects to be perplexed by you? Why or why not? If you think you may be perplexing to God about your relationship with Him, and you want to stop being perplexing, what would it take for that to happen? Do you know how it can happen?
Waiting for the Train 
I know I have “perplexed” God more than I could even imagine. As a vivid example:
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit. Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 NET
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 NET
So often in my life it boils down to the depth of love I have for my Redeemer over love of self. It is imperative for me to stay in communion with God and allow the Holy Spirit to prevail in this life He has given me to steward for His glory and honor. My prayer: “God, help me to trust You more, to yield to and surrender to Your love and will over my will. Please remove the dross and purify this vessel You have created. Help me to recognize I am not my own. As I pray scripture over myself and listen to You, help me to truly hear Your still small voice saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’ and then give me the strength Lord to walk in it through the power of Your love. In Jesus name, Amen.”
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