To Ask and Receive...

April 13, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

Chances are that you are going through situations in your life you are questioning God about. Many people will go through life doing as they see fit, and not until something goes wrong do they go screaming and yelling to God.

I am guilty as charged on that issue. But I do wonder what God thinks when we do that. For so long while I was fighting God, I envision the Holy Spirit living within me sitting there with His chin propped up on His hand looking up and drumming His fingers. I can see a big bubble over His head saying, “What in the world is she doing now?”.

Weeks ago, I wrote a note “He is calling…” about getting out of the boat when God calls you to do something. This is the opposite. These are the situations where you got out of the boat without Him calling you at all. Remember Peter asked Jesus to invite him out of the boat. He did not just jump out without any invitation at all.

When something goes wrong in life look at it from start to finish and ask yourself at what point did you ask God to be involved. For example, you pick up boxing as a hobby. You work at it daily, practice constantly, and put your heart and soul into it. Then you get hurt and go running to God asking why He let this happen when you had worked so hard. What would His answer be?

I heard Joyce Myers explain it best during a sermon she gave. She told the story of how she planted tomatoes alongside her fence and her neighbor did the same thing. She told everyone that she prayed over her tomatoes and worked hard to keep them healthy. When they were destroyed by bugs, and her neighbor’s tomatoes stayed healthy, she asked God why that happened because she knew her neighbor had not prayed over her own. Then she said God answered her and said, “I never asked you to grow tomatoes, why are you complaining?”

Jesus knew what problems this would cause, “And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.” Luke 2:49.

You are to be about your Father’s business. You are to try to be as much like Jesus as possible and that includes handling situations in the manner He would. You will never been perfect like Him because you are a sinner and He is the Son of the Living God, but that is not a “free for all” not to try. “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40.

Often we take over because we become convinced that we cannot hear God calling us to do anything. Then we start to complain that we “had” to do something because God didn’t talk to us. Start with the basics when you evaluate whether or not He helped you with a situation. Did you ask Him to help from the very beginning (i.e. God do you want me to do this)? Or are you yelling at Him for not answering a question that you didn’t bother to ask? And if you did ask Him, did you trust that He would provide the answer? If not you may as well not have asked at all. And trusting that He will provide the answer is simple: That means you DO NOT DO ANYTHING until He provides the answer. Remember you are on His time because His timing is perfect. He is not on yours. He knows at what point you will break on waiting for His answer. Survive your test of faith by waiting on Him past that very point.

This idea of someone whining because they feel like they are getting nowhere with asking God is not new. God is watching everything we do at all times, and knows how hard you have worked to seek His answer. Did you give Him all your trust? If you did then you are one of the people who know that doing something He does not want will lead you to fail and you will be left with the consequences. Still yet, God knows what others are saying.

"You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?' "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' " Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” Malachi 3:13-18.

Simply put: He knows what He is doing, and your whining doesn’t accomplish anything except to show Him two things: 1) you didn’t trust Him in the beginning and now you have gotten yourself in a mess and need help out of it, and 2) you would rather blame Him for a mess that you created instead of coming to Him now and giving it to Him to help you.

Don’t take the law into your own hands. You didn’t write it, so don’t bother. "I the LORD do not change.”; “Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.” Malachi 3:6-7.
You put Him in charge of everything and you will not fail. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17.

This is not hard truly. If you put Him in your everything start to finish, then you are free. You don’t have to look back with worry over whether you made the right decision because He was guiding you. That alleviates your anxiety. You don’t have to question where your future is going because you know He is in charge of it and loves you. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

That is the good news. Now here comes the bad. If you are in one of these situations, ask yourself when you asked Him to get involved. Didn’t put Him in the center of your marriage or relationship? Don’t act surprised you are having trouble now. Didn’t put Him in charge of your career choice? Don’t act surprised that you are not happy. Didn’t put Him in charge of your life? Don’t expect to feel peaceful.

He can’t steer you away from the bad and away from sin unless you give it to Him to begin with. After the bad happens and you fall into sin, you are stuck with dealing with the consequence because He will let you deal with the consequences to strengthen you for the future. “Strengthen you for the future” means “Don’t do it again”. Get proactive and stop being reactive.

You end up in one of these situations and want to blame Him and everyone else? Go look in the mirror. You are His child. Don’t go through life with full eyesight and then blame Him that you cannot see.

You have nothing to lose. He will not mess your life up, but you will if you don’t come to Him.

So what is His will and purpose for your life? Don’t know – have you asked?