One of the ideas that has been giving me food for thought lately has been, what happens when God says no.
The church often encourages us to share answers to prayer so as to bless and encourage others.
This is great, and can be used to increase our faith in prayer, and to demonstrate the goodness of our God.
So many of our worship choruses are to celebrate victory and overcoming the enemy. I would be the first to encourage this because this is echoed in so many places of scripture. Many of the Psalms are written in praise and adoration of the goodness and faithfulness of God.
David was one to extol the greatness of the Lord, and the many answers he saw to his prayers when he had been delivered out of all his fears.
Yet we know that this is only half the story. When people share from the front about how good the Lord is because He has come up with the goods just as they had prayed, and how wonderful He has been to them in answering prayer I have to confess there is something inside of me that says, yes - but would you be saying this if He hadn't come up with the goods?
When was the last time you heard somebody share that they have had a pig of a week. This went wrong, and that relationship was disastrous, God seemed a million miles away, their prayers were bouncing off the ceiling, and then the cat was sick all over their Sunday best!
You see when I read the Psalms I do read about the blessings, the victories, the wonderful deliverance of the Lord. Yet I also read of David crying out in Psalm 22, "My God, why have you forsaken me. and in verse 14 "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me".
I think we need to learn a lesson here. Yes, its great to tell of all the blessings that are ours every day of the week. Paul exhorts us to rejoice, and says again, to rejoice.Yet let us be real and honest too when things are not so great.
He pleaded with God three times to remove the thorn in the flesh, and God said NO!
There are going to be times in our lives when God says No to us too.
How are we going to handle this if all we ever hear about God from others are the wonderful answers to prayer they have received.
Lets not be afraid of bad news.
Habbakuk could say " Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour".
How do we get there? Paul said that after God told him that although he wasn't going to get a yes to his prayer about that thorn, he would learn that God's grace is sufficent. That it is in a place of weakness that he would know strength.
I look forward to hearing someone sharing, "that this prayer hasn't been answered, that door is firmly closed, this healing just simply doesn't seem to be happening, but I am learning that when all this is apparantly going wrong Gods grace is constantly sufficent".
When all is going pear shaped lets have the courage to declare "Isn't God good!
6 comments:
Ok Ferby you asked for it!! I'll stand up the front and say that the healing is taking years and much anguish.HOWEVER, despite the slowness of the healing, God has never left my side and my love for Jesus has deepened through the journey of pain, pain that I have thought on more than one occassion would overwhelm me.He has been faithful and I have proven that all of Him is more than enough for me.
i
Ferby,
Pass through the last two postings on my blog and you will hear me declare loud and clear.....I´m lost!! Where is God? I also have a post on the thorns in the flesh...
I can only wholeheartedly agree with you.. I believe it is a question of maturity... these "no"s often come later on in our walk with God!
I loved the post...I like being real and not playing church!
thanks
I was reading again last night about Paul and the thorn.
We had some prayers answered this year - not the answers we'd envisaged, in fact if anything it all looked like it was going to custard (NZ expression for 'pear shaped') and there was a lot of accusation, heartache and what now?
But in fact, God had been answering some prayers on changing us - only we didn't realise we'd have to go through some major stuff to see some changes in us and another situation.
Yes right on the mark.
Been praying for you and Judy.
Bless you Gail, thank you for standing in the front and being honest, and for knowing that even in the dark times God is there. During my breakdown He seemed a million miles away, but looking back its good to see His footprints.
Ally, I'm leaving in an hour for a holiday in the UK, and to bid a tearful farewell to my youngest daughter as she emarks on a new adventure with her Fiancee, however I would like to come back to you on my return. I like REAL people. Some seem to be so heavenly minded they are no earthly use!
Hi Karen. Thanks for your continued prayers, they are so appreciated.
Isn't it amazing how when we squeeze a lemon God makes lemonade.
He does give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning.
Thank you and will post again in about a couple of weeks.
Hey Ferby,
Hope your trip goes well.
Firstly, Yes you did see Richard and I out walking at L'Ancresse!I recognised you from when I attended Shiloh years ago but didn't think you'd remember me. Where do you know Richard from? I was stunned to read your post that you recognised him.
Thank you for your encouragement regarding him.
"Never give up on God coming through for him.I think the lesson we learnt more than anything else was pray consistently, let go of them regardless, and allow God to do things His way instead of trying to engineer circumstances."
This is the hardest thing, letting go of them regardless. Something God has spoken to me recently about - see my posts - about trusting Him with ALL my circumstances and those things that matter.
Anyway, look forward to hearing from you when your back.
Cheers
Bunnygirl
In His time He makes all things beautiful.Ecc.3
Hope you had a good holiday. We're off on ours on Wednesday - much needed!
Post a Comment