Chapter 2, From Him, Through Him, To Him, by Nancy Leigh Demoss

Nancy bases this chapter on the wonderful doxology of Paul in Romans 11:33-36: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen." Throughout the first 8 chapters of Romans, Paul has laid out the basic doctrines of our faith: the sinfulness of man, the amazing grace of God, the salvation that is through faith in Jesus Christ. Then in chapters 12-16, he gives practical application of all this. In between in chapters 9-11, he explores the mysteries of God's sovereign, electing grace, and God's plan for redeeming both Jews and Gentiles. As Paul concludes this section, he breaks out into the above hymn of praise. So, how does this relate to us as being true women of God? Nancy believes this passage provides a framework and context for our lives by giving us a fixed reference point for our hearts. She affirms that it tethers us to God's ultimate, eternal purposes and gives us a perspective for responding to His sovereign choices in our lives, especially those we cannot understand or explain. Oh, the depth.... Though we can never reach the bottom of God's unfathomable ways, we do know what it's like to reach the bottom of our own strength. She says the true woman knows that deeper than her own limitations and problems is the bedrock of God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge. His unseen yet sovereign, eternal purposes are underneath it all. "The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deut. 33:27) Oh the depth...of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God... God's riches are limitless, inexhaustible. There are the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience (Romans 2:4), the riches of His glory (Romans 9:23), the riches of His mercy (Ephesians 2:4), the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7-8). God also has complete wisdom and knowledge of everything about our lives: our past, present, future; our thoughts and words; our family structure; our financial situation; our physical and mental challenges; our motives; our sins, fears, and insecurities. Regardless of how complex, convoluted, or impossible our situation may seem to be right now, the wisdom of God is more than adequate to walk us through it. How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways..... Inscrutable--past finding out. We simply cannot know all that God is doing or why He does what He does at any given time. John Piper once said, "In every situation and circumstance of your life, God is always doing a thousand different things that you cannot see and you do not know." We can't yet see the outcome. But He is God, and He is working. For who has known the mind of the Lord? No one! ...or who has been His counselor? No one! God possesses limitless wisdom. He doesn't need us--we need Him! We are utterly, totally, absolutely dependent upon Him. Believing this leaves no place for doubt, or fear, or anger, or second-guessing, or disputing God's choices. He is God, and we are not. God's ways though may not always make sense to our human reasoning. His plan may include various challenges or afflictions, or unfulfilled longings. But God has an eternal purpose in mind--a plan for the display of His glory throughout all the universe, and we are a part of that plan. He knows and cares for us deeply--we can trust Him. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.... We find our true meaning and purpose only in God's meaning and purpose. That's why true womanhood results in a God-centered life and perspective, eternally tethered to who God is and His sovereign, inscrutable ways. God is the source and origin of all things (from Him). He is the one who sustains all things, the one who "upholds the universe by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3) (through Him). He created all things for Himself and His pleasure and glory (to Him). Therefore, nothing is beyond His ability to control, to transform, and to use for His glory and for our good. So what is our response? ...to Him be glory forever. Amen. We wholeheartedly affirm the Word of God. We submit our entire lives to His holy, eternal purposes. So again, what does all this have to do with being a "true woman"? Nancy asserts that this is where we find a refuge for our hearts. As we embrace these truths, we discover what true womanhood is all about. She concludes with 3 applications that she prays we will grasp and seek to orient our lives around them. 1) A true woman lives a God-centered life. She lives for God's glory and pleasure, not her own. "Every day and every moment of every day, she seeks to live with His purposes in view." Most of all, she is enthralled with the Lord Jesus Christ, the pearl of great price, the supreme treasure of life. This gives her real, genuine hope in a world filled with pain, loss, and uncertainty. 2) A true woman trusts God. She can smile at the future (Proverbs 31:25), because she knows of a God whose depths never reach bottom, whose ways are beyond finding out. "He has a plan we would not have scripted, a plan we may not understand, but it is His plan, and His plan is good, wise, and can never be thwarted." She can trust Him in times of prosperity, joy, and plenty, but also in times of pain and hardship. She can also trust that her past failures are not beyond the reach of God's redeeming grace. 3) A true woman says, "Yes, Lord." Paul begins Romans 12 with this admonition: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, living and holy and acceptable to God." A true woman knows that her life is not her own. She has been bought with a price, and now lives for the glory of God. She affirms that His purposes are good and wise, and therefore she can follow His leading with the "yes" of full obedience and submission. She is grateful that He has made her a woman, and is thankful for the privilege of serving and giving and fulfilling His holy purposes. She lives intentionally, asking what will please the Lord? what will further His kingdom? what will display His glory? She says with Mary, "I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word." (Luke 1:38) For now we walk by faith, not by sight. But one day, we will see all things clearly and the sight will be glorious. Our hearts will cry out, "Oh, Lord my God, You have done all things well...How great Thou art!" For now though, when the summit seems hopelessly far away, when we can't see what He's doing, we recall Romans 11:33-36--the depths, the riches, the wisdom, the knowledge of God. We can fall back into His sovereignty, sure of His love, and proclaim with Paul, "To Him be glory forever. Amen."