You ever ask for something BIG from God, and don’t get it? I’m not talking about superficial or material things that make us squeal with delight. I’m talking about praying for a loved one to pull through a health crisis, but they die. Pray to keep your job which pays pennies but that’s all you have to rub together, yet you get laid off. What do you do when God says no? When He disappoints you?
I saw war room a few weeks ago, remember? I said it was a good movie. And it is (go see it). But throughout the movie I struggled. I was the main character in that movie. I was the wife. I was in a far worse predicament than her. But even in all the bad I was surrounded by, all the things I discovered, all the women who reached out to me, I still prayed for God to save my marriage. I even set up my own war room…just didn’t know that’s what it was called. HAHA! But I wrote out my prayers and taped them in my closet (it’s a really nice, big closet with its own vanity! Super dope!). I prayed to God, I cried out to God and I followed whatever directive anyone with half a “Jesus is real” attitude had, all to save my marriage (If you saw me during that time with a tutu on my head doing jumping jacks upside down, just know, there was a purpose for it!). Only to sit in court at the end of last year to sign papers.
I could not understand. Then. But now I do.
Daniel 3:16-18 AMP says Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this point. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!”
These boys were about to thrown into a fiery furnace (CAN YOU IMAGINE?!?!….if you are wearing a weave right now, I know you shuddered extra hard. It’s worse than sitting at a hibachi table with a weave….I know this because a friend told me). Anyway, the King kind of mocked them. “Where’s your God now?” he asked them. And the above verse was their response. God can deliver if He wants to! He has all power to do so. But even if He doesn’t God is a good God and we still trust Him. A friend of mine once said one of the most mature prayers a Christian can pray is “God please do this for me…but even if you don’t, You are still good and I still trust you”. No truer words have ever been spoken. I used to stop at God please do this for me. I’ve learned to finish the sentence.
Sometimes, when the disappointment is large…and it brings the kind of blinding deafening pain (you know, like when you slam your fingers in a door, you can’t hear or see anything for 15 seconds?), trust tends to waiver. It makes us timid to ask for the next thing, instead of being bold. James 1:6a says “Ask boldy, believingly without a second thought…”. We think, He didn’t say yes to the last thing, why would He say yes to this. That’s a very human response that needs to be replaced with spiritual insight. We need to be reminded that God Knows Best. If He said no…if He took that person or thing away or allowed it to leave, it was not by accident of happenstance. Nothing takes God by surprise. He wants us to get to the point that we trust Him, no matter what, knowing that He knows best, He’s in control, He holds my life, He takes care of me.
A friend of mine is facing a serious medical condition. It is truly remarkable and encouraging to read he and his family’s posts. While they are transparent in their fears and worries, they are staunch in their faith. Come what may, they still trust God. He is literally fighting for his life, yet he is encouraging others to trust God.
All of us have suffered some kind of traumatic loss. And for a lot of us, that pain has pushed us out of position. We become so focused on that big gushing open wound, wondering why a good God would allow this type of pain. We keep picking at it. We shut down. We move away from God. He promises to be there when we hurt. Psalm 34:18 GNT says The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. But we have to fight to stay close to Him. There you find rest…a salve for the pain. Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
Move away from why? Move away from doubting Him because you don’t understand His decisions…or what He allows. Don’t allow resentment to set in. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that we think differently than Him, so our understanding of His decisions will always be skewed. My thoughts,” says the Lord, “are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours.
In this life you will hurt. You will cry. You will have to live with unanswered questions. This goes for all of us. But sis, as a believer, utilize your power…your liberties in Jesus Christ. Allow Him to work on your doubt, your anger. Allow Him to comfort you. Trust that He knows best. Trust Him. Trust Him…
God please do this for me...but even if you don't, You are still good and I still trust you. Click To TweetYou may have to say it through gritted teeth, tear stained pillows, an uncomfortable heart. Say it anyway. Say it until your heart says it before your brain can comprehend the situation. Say it until it becomes your way of life. And then say it some more after that. Say it, even when God says no.
