God’s Lesson Notes:

Student: Randall York
Subject: Trusting Me
Current Grade: C




Randall is an excellent student. Even though we are less than half-way through his life lesson of "Trusting Me," he has shown some remarkable strengths and made progress far beyond many of his contemporaries, and yet he seems to revert to old patterns of self-reliance and doubt near the conclusion of each lesson.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the most demanding subjects I offer. By it's very nature each lesson pushes and stretches the student to limits they’ve not experienced and it may be the reason many students just stop attending the course. I have to note that those who continue in the study often excel to the bewilderment of those around them. My objective here has been recorded in James, Chapter 1 verse 12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Randall shows good promise at the beginning of each lesson, he communicates his situation with me and his brothers and sisters, he readily confesses and believes I will remedy the issue and he continues on in his work. Part of the lesson is simply allowing the situation to continue, not worsening or bettering, in order to examine how the heart of the student changes. While externally, Randall works to maintain a positive outlook and professes continued belief in my care; internally I see a veil slowly clouding his belief. He tends to react similarly as our disciple Peter did after he stepped out of the boat to meet us on the Sea of Galilee. (Matt 14:25-31)

I know that I am the reason for their thinking pattern. After all, I am the one who granted free will and choice to mankind. Ultimately, everyone will know that all I desired for them was a good life (Matt 7:9-11), and all I desired FROM them is worship and praise (Mark 12:30). I will not demand it, for a freely given offering is purer than gold refined in fire.

I will continue to refine Randall, for I have plans for him to use all I have given him in the furtherance of my kingdom. I will bless him as long as he follows my leading in his life (Jer 29:11) He just needs to know that it is always for his benefit that he should stand strong during these times (James 1:2-4)

Randall is passing the course right now, but he has the capability to excel at it. After all, my promise is right there in Matthew 6:25- 34 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.