When God Says “Wait…”

We’ve all been in a situation, most of us a number of times, where we’re waiting for God to answer a particular prayer or deliver us from a difficult situation. Perhaps you find yourself in such a place right now.
         I have to admit that I have a really hard time waiting – even if it’s waiting on the Lord. I’m very much an action taker by nature and I like to get answers as quickly as possible, including answers to my prayers. I’ve found, however, that God often doesn’t give me a definite answer right away and that He tends to operate on a timetable that’s very different from mine. He is most certainly not in a hurry like I am.
         As I have matured in my faith, I have come to understand that what I perceive as the most pressing needs in my life are not always the most important needs in God’s eyes – this, because He sees the bigger picture that I myself don’t see. What may look like an urgent need to me may, in fact, only be a secondary issue to the Lord of heaven and earth who is able to make out the beginning, middle, and end of everything that is happening and is going to happen in my life.
         You or I may pray for our sick child to get well, or for the restoration of a broken marriage, or for help to get out of debt, or a number of other good things… God, on the other hand, although He very much cares about all these needs, may be even more concerned about using our circumstances to teach us patience, contentment, trust, love, and wisdom.
         If our desires are godly and otherwise in accordance with His will, we can be certain that God will meet them at the right time and in the right way, because “no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). However, God will sometimes choose to keep us in “the waiting room” for a season because He wants to accomplish something even bigger in our lives than what we are asking Him for: He wants to use our painful, frustrating, or confusing circumstances to teach us valuable lessons about ourselves and His character.
         What, then, should our attitude be while we wait on God? How should we approach Him while waiting for relief – or should we approach Him at all? And what can we expect from Him?
         For answers to these questions, let’s look to the fascinating account of Acts, chapter 16. Here we read that Paul and Silas were put in jail on false accusations after casting a spirit of divination out of a slave-girl – and they weren’t merely placed in a temporary holding cell; they were thrown into the inner prison where their feet were secured in stocks (v. 24)! That it would take big-time divine intervention to get them out of there is pretty clear!
         And divine intervention is exactly what happened next: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose” (vv. 25-26).
         These two short verses are jam-packed with valuable insights that you and I can apply to our own lives. Firstly, notice Paul’s and Silas’ attitude. They weren’t murmuring, complaining, crying bitter tears, or arguing with God. Certainly, if the two men had had a poor attitude, they could easily have justified it to themselves and each other. I mean, here they are out and about proclaiming the Gospel, doing God’s will, and delivering a poor slave-girl from a demon, and next thing they know they get dragged in front of the authorities and thrown in jail! What had they done to deserve such treatment? Where was God? Had He suddenly left them?
         How many of us, if in a similar situation, wouldn’t have either shaken our fist at God or hung our head in despair? But Paul and Silas did neither. Instead, while waiting for God’s deliverance, they prayed and worshiped! And, as they demonstrated trust in God this way, they were no doubt a powerful testimony to the other prisoners who were listening in on their prayers and praises (see v. 25).
         Then, while Paul and Silas were praising the Lord, “about midnight”, God came to their rescue. This is the second thing we should notice – that the deliverance came “about midnight”. In our modern day vernacular we frequently use the phrase “at the midnight hour”, meaning that something happens in the nick of time. Interestingly, as we search the Scriptures, we find that God often chooses to wait until the last minute to provide a solution to our problems. In fact, flip back just a few pages, to Acts 12:5-7, and you’ll read about how Peter, too, was in prison, and that while he was incarcerated and the church was praying for his release, an angel miraculously delivered him. His rescue, we’re told, took place on the very night Herod was about to bring him forward!
         Many of us have also experienced in our own lives that God will frequently wait until our circumstances look impossible before He’ll come to our rescue. Why is this? Well, it’s one of the ways that God builds trust and patience in us and really stretches our faith muscle. The longer the wait, the more of an opportunity we have to seek Him, pray to Him, learn about Him, and worship Him. If God always came through for us as soon as we presented Him with a petition, that wouldn’t give us much of a chance to grow spiritually, would it?
         The third thing we should notice is that God’s deliverance of Paul and Silas happened in a way that was absolutely extraordinary. Going back to Acts 16:26, we read that, “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” It was a full-fledged miracle: what happened was so supernatural that it couldn’t be explained in any other way than that it was the hand of God at work.
         The Lord, it seems, often chooses to put His glory on display this way. Certainly, He works through natural means as well; by sovereignty orchestrating all the “ordinary” little events in our lives in such a manner that our prayers are answered and His will comes to pass…  But He can just as well do something unexpected and remarkable as something that can be easily explained. He did after all create the universe out of nothing and raise Jesus Christ from the dead – is anything too difficult for our heavenly Father?
         So, to sum it all up, when life appears to be on hold and we’re waiting on God to give us answers, let’s remember the inspiring example of Paul and Silas. Like these two devout followers of Christ, let’s refrain from complaining or growing impatient, and instead try to look at our circumstances through the eyes of the One who sees the bigger picture. Let’s continue to sing His praises while we wait, because even in seasons of waiting God is working in our hearts – perhaps especially then. And what He wants to teach us during those seasons are important life lessons that are going to benefit us long-term.
         When, like Paul and Silas, there’s nothing we can do to change our predicament and all we can do is wait for God to act on our behalf, we need to make sure we have the right attitude while waiting. This is our responsibility! God, when He comes to our rescue, wants to find us waiting with an attitude of joy, trust, and faith.
         Also, let’s not forget that even if our situation looks “impossible”, with God, all things are always possible. We always have reason to be hopeful, and so we should continue to pray with expectancy, not allowing a delayed answer to dismay us. God can, at any time – even at the midnight hour – send a proverbial earthquake to shake the ground and make closed doors fly open. Therefore, we must not lose heart but should continue to press in in prayer for as long as it takes, until we get a definite yes or no.
         And friends – as with Paul and Silas – while we wait for deliverance, may our testimony before the watching world be pleasing to our Lord… May the world look at us and marvel at our inexplicable joy in the midst of our trials… May we keep our faces lifted toward heaven in praise and worship, knowing that God is always “working all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28)!
         Remember, God is good; God is wise; God is powerful…and God is for us!
 
 
 
 
 

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How To Conquer Your Giants

Remember Shammua son of Zaccur, Shaphat son of Hori, or Palti son of Raphu? How about Gaddiel son of Sodi, Gaddi son of Susi, or Geuel son of Maki? No? Well, not many of us do. But if I say Joshua son of Nun or Caleb son of Jephunneh, you instantly know who I’m talking about, don’t you? In fact, I probably only need to say “Joshua and Caleb”, and it will immediately bring to your mind the account in Numbers 13 where Moses dispatches twelve spies to scout out the Land of Canaan as the future home of the Israelite people. Of course, Joshua and Caleb were among these twelve men. The other names I listed are some of the other ten spies.
        There’s a reason why we don’t recall the names of the ten, but have no problem remembering Joshua and Caleb. Joshua and Caleb returned from the Land of Canaan, the land God had promised His people, with a positive report, firmly believing that God would grant them victory over their enemies. The rest of the spies came back with a doom and gloom report and discouraged the people from trying to conquer the land. In their mind, the obstacles were too great.
        The ten men reported that in Canaan they had seen large, fortified cities and scary looking giants. “The land we explored devours those living in it,” they said (Numbers 13:32). Devours? That’s pretty strong language. And they added, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” (verse 33). Now, how in the world did they know that? How did they know what their enemy was thinking? It’s not exactly like they interviewed them!
        Of course, they didn’t know. The statement was based on a subjective, unfounded assessment of their circumstances.
 

How Big Is Your God?

        Obstacles are those frightening things we see when we take our eyes off God’s promises. When we forget how big God is, life’s challenges seem insurmountable and fear quickly builds in our hearts. On the other hand, when we consider God’s character, His goodness, His wisdom, His power, His undisputed faithfulness toward us in the past, the fact that He put the stars in their place and created the universe out of nothing, that He is the supreme ruler of all things, then suddenly our problems don’t look so big anymore.
        The twelve men all journeyed to the same land, but they didn’t see the same thing. This, because some looked at their circumstances through the eyes of doubt, while others – in fact, only Joshua and Caleb – decided to view them through the eyes of faith.
        If we’re honest with ourselves, we’d have to admit that we’re more like the ten spies who came back with a negative report than we’re like Joshua and Caleb. We evaluate things more on the basis of our circumstances than on God’s promises.
        For example, God says He has moved our transgressions as far from us as the East is from the West, yet we listen to our emotions instead and go around feeling guilty about sins we have already confessed. Or, God tells us we are perfected through patience, but we – because we have bought into the instant gratification mindset of our culture – grumble and complain when things don’t happen on our time table. And of course the list goes on and on and on.
 

Fearless Living

        Human beings are prone to be lacking in courage, so it’s no wonder the phrase “don’t be afraid” is the most frequently used command in the Bible (repeated well over 300 times). Also, it’s interesting to note that in the first chapter of the book of Joshua, four decades after the spy incident, when God instructs Joshua to enter and conquer the Promised Land, He tells him multiple times to “be strong and courageous”. Apparently, even an experienced warrior like Joshua needed this reminder.
        If we don’t make a deliberate effort to look at our circumstances through the lens of faith, all we will see is guilt that can’t be shaken, temptations that can’t be resisted, prayers that remain unanswered, and needs in our lives that aren’t met. We’ll be inclined to believe weak fellow Christians who come to us with doom and gloom reports and discourage us from taking hold of that which God has promised us. The mountains will appear too high to climb, the terrain too perilous to explore, and the giants much bigger than they really are.
        The Calebs and Joshuas of our time, however, understand that it is God who paves the way for His people, grants them favor, wipes out their enemies, and gives them the land. They know that as long as they just walk obediently with the Lord, they have nothing – nothing whatsoever – to fear.
 

The Link Between Obedience And Courage

        Right after God commands Joshua to “be strong and very courageous,” He adds, “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7-9).
        Do you see the obvious link here between obedience and courage, between following God’s precepts and experiencing His favor, between cherishing God’s Word and succeeding in conquest? So often we pray for God to guide us, yet we haven’t yet responded to what He has already revealed to us! Why would He lead us and show us the next step if we aren’t following what He has already told us?
        Each time the Holy Spirit prompts us to move in one direction or the other, you and I have the choice to either obey or disobey what He is showing us. We can be faithful or we can be faithless. Any time we distrust God and reject the light, we experience more bondage. Any time we trust God and respond to the light, we find more freedom.
 

Put Your Foot In The River

        After Moses had died and Joshua had been given the task of leading the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land, God also said something else: “It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap” (Joshua 3:13).
        Did you catch that? God didn’t tell Joshua He was going to lead them to the river bank, part the waters, and then have them walk across on a dry path. No, He said to first step into the river. The moment they did – in fact, the very moment the soles of their feet touched the water – the waters would part.
        God builds faith in us not by showing us His entire plan all at once, but by directing us, one step at a time. This is what it means to walk by faith. When we put our faith in Him, He is honored. In return, He honors our faith.
        Friend, God wants to take you across the river, to the Promised Land – a place of purpose, usefulness, fulfillment, rest, peace, and joy. It’s all there. You just need to trust and obey Him. So don’t stand there fretting at the giants. Put your foot in the river and the waters will part. Remember, the obstacles in front of you are never as great as the power behind you…

The Cure For Fear And Doubt

I always have to chuckle a bit whenever I read in Acts 12 about how Peter, after his miraculous escape from prison with the help of an angel, shows up at the house where the rest of the church has gathered to pray for his release. When the maidservant, Rhoda, sees him at the door, she is so overcome with joy that she just leaves him standing there and rushes back in to the prayer team to announce his arrival. The rest of the group then argues over the truthfulness of her report: the very answer to their prayers is knocking, and they refuse to believe it. They declare Rhoda crazy – all while Peter is left knocking and calling at the door!

When Rhoda sticks to her story, the church members conclude that Peter’s guardian angel – who according to their Jewish tradition would take on his attributes – has arrived, either to bring good news or to announce Peter’s death. It seems that any other option is more feasible than that God has in fact answered their prayers and delivered Peter from prison! When they go to investigate, Scripture tells us they are “beside themselves in astonishment” as they open the door and see Peter standing there.

The narrative has comic irony, but when you think about it, isn’t it pretty illustrative of the way you and I often approach God? We pray without believing God and are astonished when He answers our petitions. We don’t come before Him with confident faith. We doubt His ability to overcome natural obstacles. We don’t believe His timing is perfect. Oh, we may say we have faith and that we believe in His power and His timing, but when we fret and worry and/or try to take matters into our own hands and push our own agenda, aren’t we proving just the opposite?

Jesus said that as believers we must become “like children” in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). Childlike faith differs from a doubting faith in that children are trusting and ready to receive whatever they ask for without questions or fear. When a parent makes a promise, a child naturally believes. He or she does not worry about whether or not the parent is going to follow through (unless, of course, the parent has made a habit of deceit or unreliability).

Even when parents tell silly tales of the tooth fairy and Santa Claus, the child readily believes. When a little child climbs up on a ledge and his daddy tells him to throw himself off, reassuring him that “I will catch you”, the child does so gladly, shrieking with delight as he throws himself into his father’s arms. The child may experience some fear, but his trust in his parent – that he will be there to catch him just like he said – outweighs that fear many times over.

This is the kind of trust God wants from us. He wants us to trust Him with the innocent, believing heart of a child and without the cynicism of an adult.

Let’s also remember that doubt is a tool of Satan to make us distrust God’s Word. The natural mind tends to fear and to question what the Bible says rather than simply believe.

The remedy for fear and doubt is faith, and faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). God gave us the Bible as a testimony of His works in the past so we can have good reason to trust Him in the present and for the future. In order for our faith to be strengthened, we must study the Scriptures to know what God has said and done for His people throughout the ages, and also regularly meditate on how He has come through for us, personally, in the past.

This is how we reassure our doubtful hearts that He is, in fact, trustworthy. As a result, we are then better able to come before the Lord in expectant prayer, believing that He is going to act on our behalf, and when we honor God this way by placing confident faith in Him, He again honors our faith by proving Himself faithful to us and answering our petitions.

How To Walk By Faith

Not only are we saved by faith but we’re also instructed to walk by faith. What does this mean? Well, when Scripture tells us “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:6-7), it’s a metaphorical reference to how we are to conduct our lives. Mind you, it’s not telling us to make irrational decisions or blind leaps of faith but rather to focus on the unseen realities and live in light of eternal consequences. A person who walks by faith is going against his natural instincts, responding to what God has revealed to him through His Word and through the Holy Spirit, even though he hasn’t yet seen it with his eyes.

Rarely does God show us the entire road ahead all at once. He tends to guide us one step at a time because this is what builds trust and produces growth in us. God wired us to learn that way.

Each time the Holy Spirit prompts us to move in one direction or the other, we have the choice to either obey or disobey what He is showing us. Any time we respond to the light, we find more freedom. Any time we reject the light, we experience more bondage. For the obedient child of God, life is a journey of increasing spiritual insight. As Proverbs 4:18 tells us: “…the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”

Just take the first step that God is showing you. In due time He will show you the next. Then, as you obey Him again, He’ll show you the next…

If we‘re having a hard time discerning God’s voice, it could be that we’re simply not spending enough time in His presence. It could also be that we’re holding on to some sin. Scripture tells us that,”If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18 ). We can’t expect the Holy Spirit to lead us and show us His will if we aren’t obeying what He has already revealed to us!

Consider the words of Oswald Chambers: “The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. If a man wants scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is his guide; but if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience. If things are dark to me, then I may be sure there is something I will not do. Intellectual darkness comes through ignorance; spiritual darkness comes because of something I do not intend to obey.”

God’s purpose by having us walk by faith is to help us know, trust, and love Him more. This, not only to benefit us in our own Christian walk, but so that we can also use our experiences to help others. Walking by faith is a way of life. It’s how we are to live each day, every day, until Christ returns or calls us home. Because, as Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

When God called Abraham out on his pilgrimage, Abraham had no idea where he was going, other than to a foreign land inhabited by enemies. Yet his response was one of immediate obedience. And Noah…think about it… It wasn’t raining during the 100+ years he spent building the ark – in fact, he probably hadn’t seen rain his entire life as most scholars believe there was no rain prior to the flood. Yet, when God called him to embark on what must have seemed like a completely irrational and totally bizarre mission, he did not object, complain, or question God.

This is the kind of faith God wants us to have – an implicit, childlike, unwavering faith. And yet, isn’t it true that having faith in God’s promises is one of the things we, as Christians, struggle with the most? We want to be in control, we want to know what the future holds, we want answers and explanations. But more often than not, God chooses not to give them to us. Instead He says, “Just trust me, and you’ll see how I’ll come through for you.”

How about you, do you live each day by faith, or is everything in your life carefully planned out? Are you always trying to have everything under control, and does it make you frustrated, anxious, or stressed whenever you feel like you’re not on top of things? Are you always conservative in your choices? Or do you regularly take risks for the Kingdom of God?

If we had it our way, we’d always know what was around the corner and we’d be fully prepared for every challenge. But that’s not God’s way for His children. His way is one of surrender, trust and dependency. As the song goes, “Trust and obey, there’s no other way.”

Just take the first step.

 

 

When Nothing Seems To Be Happening

Are you waiting on God to come through for you in a particular situation? Maybe it’s a family situation…maybe it’s your career, or your health…or maybe you’re waiting for God to show you your calling in life.

Maybe you’ve prayed for months, even years, yet nothing seems to be happening and you’re feeling discouraged.

Remember, though, that feelings are just feelings – your discouragement doesn’t say anything about the REALITY of the situation: God is still at work even if you can’t see it or feel it!

What I always do when waiting on God is try to remember that there is a lesson in trust, faith and patience that He wants to teach me in midst of it all, and that this is likely why there is a delay in the answer to my prayers.

And then, instead of focusing on the fact that my prayers haven’t been answered (yet), I find joy in the fact that God is right now doing an “invisible” work behind the scenes – a work in my own heart as well as in the hearts of the people involved in the particular situation.

It’s all about perspective…learning to have GOD’s perspective. And this is why, every day, I go to God in prayer and ask, “Lord, help me see what You want me to see and learn what You want me to learn.”

I encourage you to do the same: Ask God to help you see your situation with spiritual eyes! Then keep praying, keep trusting, and keep believing! :))

God Is Always Doing Good Things In Your Life

As I was re-reading the story of Joseph this morning, I found myself meditating on the amazing truth that God works all things together for the good in the lives of His children. ALL things!

Our worst failures, our mess-ups, pain caused us by other people, even our sins – God uses it all to do a majestic work in our lives for our good and His glory.

Joseph was separated from his father, sold into slavery by his brothers, unjustly accused of a crime and thrown into prison…

He suffered tremendously, and I’m sure he must have asked himself countless times over the years, “Where is God? Has He forgotten me?”

And yet he ended up in the right place at the right time, exactly where God wanted him – namely in a place of prominence in the land of Egypt, where he was able to save the entire population from starvation, even his own brothers who had betrayed him!

As Joseph said to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)

Never ever doubt that God is at work in your life just as He was in the life of Joseph – yes, even when it seems as if He is absent!

God sees everything and His plans are perfect. Trust and obey Him…you’ll never be sorry that you did! :))

Do We Dare Pray Like This?

Waiting on God takes a lot of faith sometimes, but it’s one of the ways we learn to TRUST Him. Thomas à Kempis wrote:

“Lord, You know what is best. May Your will decide what shall be done. Give what You will, how much You will, and when You will.

Do what You know is best for me, do what pleases You and brings Your name the most honor. Put me where You will, and deal with me in all things as You please. I am in Your hand – turn me backwards and forwards, turn me upside down.

Here I am, Your servant, ready for anything, for I have no desire to live for myself, but only to live perfectly and worthily for You.”

Do we dare pray like this? Do we trust God enough to submit to Him that completely? So completely that we are not afraid to ask Him to take things away from us if He so sees fit? So completely that we are willing to let Him use us however He pleases?

Truly living for God means dying to self and laying everything at the foot of the cross, not holding anything back…

“Has God Said?”

It’s fascinating to study and meditate on Genesis 3, to consider the origin of sin and realize how Satan operates the EXACT same way today that he did in the Garden of Eden. For example…

1) Satan wants us to question God and His Word. “Has God said…?” he asked Eve (3:1). He does the very same thing today, wanting us to doubt God’s promises and His authority.

2) Satan wants us to believe that God is narrow and restrictive and that there is other pleasure out there that we should go after.

“You will be like God, knowing good and evil,” he told Eve (3:5). In the same way, he appeals to our pride today when he tempts us to sin and to disobey God.

3) Satan lies about the reality of spiritual death. “You will not surely die,” he said to Eve (3:4).

He uses the same strategy today, operating through satanic religions that teach reincarnation, annihilation, etc, rather than the Biblical view of judgement.

4) Satan wants the woman to leave her husband’s protection and leadership and go “do her own thing.”

He got Eve to do it, and he still does it today women all over the world through “feminism” and other ungodly movements…

Why You Don’t Need To Worry…

One thing my mom always used to tell me when I was growing up was to “not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.” Although not a Christian, she knew that Bible verse (Matthew 6:34)!

When we Christians worry, we essentially demonstrate a distrust in God’s goodness and providence. If God is loving, all knowing and all powerful, and in control of all our circumstances, then what is there to worry about?

Philippians 4:5 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” That’s the way to deal with worry – take it to God! :))

As it’s also been said (this not from the Bible although certainly a biblical concept), “Take your burden to God in prayer. Then trust Him enough to LEAVE it there.”

Do not worry! God’s got your back! :)))

Trusting God’s Timing

Waiting on God to answer our prayers can be so, so hard sometimes, can’t it? Yet there is a supernatural peace that comes from being able to TRUST the Lord and His timing. And He wants us to experience this peace!

Any time I find myself getting impatient waiting for God to answer my prayers, I try to remind myself that I’m only seeing a small part of the picture…my Heavenly Father, on the other hand, sees the end from the beginning, and He knows what’s best for me.

If you’re experiencing a delay in God’s answer to your prayers, realize that He has something He wants to teach you in the process. A lesson in trust. A lesson in patience. A lesson in humility. A lesson is surrendering your will completely to His.

And when the moment comes that He does answer your prayer, you’re going to see that it came at the PERFECT time!

God is holy, He is ALL knowing, and He is ALL powerful. There is nothing in your life that He allows to happen that is not for your good! :))

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)