Staying Sane in God's Process

If I'm honest I'd say that more often than I would like to admit, I find myself feeling as though I'm completely at as loss when it comes to understanding where I am in relation to God's process. Through this seemingly unending struggle, God has worked into me (or perhaps I should say BEAT into me) two truths that have become anchors for my ability to stay confident and have peace through every season.

1) His Voice -- Listen & Obey.
Despite the constant screams from my mind, will, and emotions that are always calling into question where I am, what I'm doing, what "my plan" is, etc -- there is only one voice that I can rely on to be my guide. Sometimes it takes me half an hour of sitting silently in "prayer" before I can even begin to really tune into God, but His voice is literally my lifeline. In this life, we are bombarded with countless voices both from within us and from outside sources that would seek to steer us one way or another. Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice" and "the voice of a stranger they will not follow" (Jn. 10:27; 10). Until I have heard Him speak, I am wandering aimlessly, vulnerable to be led astray by other voices. But when I have heard Him, everything is certain, clear, safe, and hopeful.

2) His Hands -- Trust & Believe.
 Often even after I have heard, I find myself calling what He has spoken into question because life around me does not look like it's headed where I'd thought it would. Every time this issue arises, God brings me back to this scripture over and over again:

"...for I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." -- 2 Tim 1:12

If I have really put my life, my destiny, my joy into God's hands, then it is no longer on me to make anything happen. Paul does not say here, "I know in WHAT I have believed" but "in WHOM." It's all the difference in the world whether your confidence and peace rests in whether you're making progress toward some visible outcome that you're "believing for" or whether it rests in the knowledge that you have entrusted your life into the surest of hands. He is able to guard it all; I need only to know that His purposes will be accomplished, not that things will go a certain way. He will see to it; I need only to remain in Him, and I will bear much fruit (Jn. 15:7-8).

Hear Him, obey Him, trust Him, believe Him. Let every other voice be silenced, every doubt cast aside, every fear put to rest! Let us say with Jesus, as it concerns finishing our races well:

"Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
    and I know I will not be put to shame" (Isa. 50:7).