Start With What You Know

I have a phrase that is uttered often during the school days here at home with my children. When there is a problem to figure out that, to them, seems much too complicated...I tell them, "Start with what you know."

Once given those instructions they go back to the basics and complete what they do know. It's amazing to watch how just completing a few steps of any given problem with what they know somehow helps the bigger problem at hand to not seem so overwhelming and impossible.

 And then I consider those life circumstances that seem too complicated to figure out.  The ones that seem so overwhelming, impossible, unfair and unexplainable. Those situations that leave one reeling and coming face to face with the sovereignty of God and who He is.

When encountering such a circumstance more recently I heard a gentle whisper flow through my spirit in encouragement and direction, "Start with what you know."

So I did. I went back to all I have learned and know God to be. I used my experiences, knowledge of His Word and understanding to get me started down the path of trusting and believing that He does all things well, that He works all things for good to those that love Him.

I encourage you to give it a try. Next time you are faced with something that seems much too complicated, unexplainable, irrational, or just too much to begin to even know where to start in processing it all.... just start with what you know.

It really is a good place to begin.