June 3, 2013

• Has God Let You Down?

  Many of us, if we were completely honest, would have to admit that we do not totally believe that God has given us His best. We know we should, but we just don't. And why is it that we feel this way? Because we have asked God for things, and we did not get them. Maybe we ask for healing, or a better job. Maybe we ask that we would be spared some bad thing which was ready to fall on us. We ask for these things, and we did not get them, so --- God let us down. God disappointed us, and we are not sure if we can REALLY trust Him. Have you ever felt that way? I know I have.

  We get some idea in our head and try to use God like He is a vending machine where our prayer goes in, and the answer we want comes out. Yeah... it doesn't work like that. As shocking as this my be, we are wrong to assume that we always know what is best for us! How can we, really? We do not see the future. We do not have God's understanding of events to come. How can we really know what is best and right? We know what is EASIEST for us. But God is not about easy. God's purposes cannot always be understood. We can't see ahead like He can.
  
  (Isa 55:8 -9 NLT)  "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

  Probably when Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery he was wondering where God was. How could God possibly allow something so terrible to happen to him? But God did. And, when Joseph had walked through it, he was able to see God's plan in it all. He was able to say to his brothers, "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives." (Gen 45:4-5 MSG)

  When I was in the hospital for a surgery, I got to know the young man who came each day to draw blood. He saw my Bible on my night stand, and started asking me questions about why I read it. We had some good talks, and then I asked him if he would like a Bible of his own. He did. I ask my husband to bring one up to the hospital when he next visited. My surgery required that I have bone grafts, so I was in the hospital for a long time. Eventually, I had the joy of praying with this young man to receive Christ. That would never have happened if God had instantly healed me. I would not have been in a hospital needing surgery if God had answered the "easy prayer." Sure, God could have had this young man meet someone else who could lead him to Christ, but I got to be the one! What a joy! The value of his redeemed soul was certainly worth whatever I had to go through. I see that now.

  Many things have happened in my life that were certainly not my choice. I did not understand and I struggled. I cried. But, my only choices were to trust and obey God, or tell Him no.

  It is hard to trust. It is hard to say "Not my will, Lord, but YOURS be done." But it is the best thing for us. Of course, there is nothing wrong with telling God what we would like. He says we should. Often, He does say yes to our requests. Those are good times, aren't they? But, sometimes He says no. Or wait. Not such good times then. The key is being convinced of God's goodness. The key is believing that He really DOES know best, and He loves you too much to give you something less than His best. The key is faith. I love the quote by Oswald Chambers which says, "Faith is flinging yourself with reckless confidence on God."

  (Rom 11:33 AMP)  Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!

  So, what will YOU do? Will you hold back, or will you trust? Are you ready to say YES to God's best?

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