As a general rule, I try to avoid asking God too many why questions about our situation, as I’m very aware that He has everything well in hand. I’m not saying that God doesn’t expect us to ask those kind of questions, nor do I want you to think that He would tire of them. I talk to God as my Creator, my father, and my closest friend, which is really what I think he’s seeking from us, his children. And yes, I still find myself at the why of a thing, while talking with God. I’m pretty sure that its quite normal.
In turn, I also believe that the Almighty displays the patience, love, nurturing and guidance toward me, as that of only a true father… and, in ways that only God can do!
Many times, God will speak to me directly through scripture… and before you start wondering, no, I’m not doing some bizarre rewrite of God’s word! What I mean is, when I’m dealing with something in the here and now, many times I will read a passage in scripture that seems to directly relate to my perspective on that current dilemma. Let me give you an example from quite recently…
Currently, my husband and I are being housed in a motel while awaiting available lodging, or more truthfully stated, we wait for a voucher that will allow us to even go tour any possible locations. We’ve been here for four months now, and quite possibly will be sleeping in our car by tomorrow, as there will be no more support available financially from the organization that has been involved. Still no voucher, and the case worker involved is now avoiding any contact with us. If you simply glance at the situation, it looks pretty bleak and hopeless, I know.
I still stand upon my faith and trust in the Almighty, don’t get me wrong. There are times like the other day, however, when I asked God a question that had been floating around in the back of my mind, lately. Here’s the question I asked…
“God, why does it seem like You always wait until the eleventh hour to step in and move, leaving all that in-between time of me not knowing anything? There’s no answers available, nowhere to turn, and no sign of you interceding on my behalf… why?”
God didn’t respond for three days, but when He did, it happened to come directly from the passages of scripture I’d just been reading. I’m not going to give you a version of what I received from His word, but rather, I’d like to share the actual scripture I found myself reading.
I’d just finished studying within 1 Corinthians, and thought to go back and re-read the book of Romans. I had gotten as far as chapter 4, when I was frozen in place, after reading only the third verse,
What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”. Romans 4:3
The reason I stopped as soon as I read that verse, was the part where it said Abraham believed God, not that Abraham believed IN God… there’s an obvious difference! Many claim to believe in God, but how many hear what God has said, or read the bible… and take God at His word, or in other words Believe God!
When I read that verse, it made me curious about what was meant by “believed God”, and almost instantly, I thought of Abraham standing with a knife poised above his son, Isaac, there on that lonely mountain. Going back and re-reading that story from the book of Genesis, I saw something. First off, God told Abraham that he would make him the father of nations, and the man was already 99 years old! Then God told Abraham that his wife Sarah, who was far past the age of bearing children, as well as being barren all her days, would bear him this son. Sarah did, in fact, bear Abraham a son! And, at the very time that God said it would. Reading on through the story, I finally reached the part that’d been tugging on my heart from Romans 4:3.
I’d really encourage you to read through the story, in its entirety, so that you can make your own discoveries. For today, I’ll try to give you a brief synopsis, but it’s only my personal perspective, so try to keep that in mind as you read.
In Genesis 22, it starts off by saying that God tested Abraham. So try to remember, going forward here, we know from where we sit now that God does NOT require or even consider the sacrifice of any human life… but Abraham didn’t! God told Abraham to gather his son, a sacrificial lamb, and all that was needed to perform a sacrifice. Then Abraham was instructed that he was to take his son up a mountain, build an alter, and then sacrifice the child upon said alter.
This didn’t happen overnight, no no no, it took the whole time of packing, traveling, building said alter, and then doing the actual sacrificing. I cannot imagine the questions rolling around in Abrahams mind, nor can I imagine the distress of his heart, over what God was commanding that he do with his son; with the very child that God had miraculously given to him and his wife, in the first place.
With all of that turmoil within himself, Abraham still did exactly as God had commanded him… without an ounce of hesitation! It was God’s very hand that stayed that knife blade, fully poised to strike!
Hmmmmmm… Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness!
God’s ways are not our ways, His thoughts are far higher than our own understanding… and He will make a way where there was none!
I not only believe in God, but I BELIEVE GOD, so that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
God Bless!
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