Feedback letters can have their benefits, but when you give people an opportunity to state their opinion, they're always willing to help identify a problem. But how many times are people willing to get their hands dirty and find solutions to solve the problem?
We like to complain about a lot of things, but the question is are we as believers complaining about what is going on in the world, or are we actually willing to bring The Answer?
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
Judges 6:13-14 (NIV)
Is He not sending us? Could there not be the slightest possibility dear friends that we are not placed on this green and blue planet to just sit and think about how we can spend our pension one day? If we invest the same amount of time that we are complaining into praying, can you even imagine what this world would look like? We'll come to the point where we realize that the Christ in us is so much more important than the self-awareness and comfort around us.
Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”
And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.”
Judges 6:17-18 (NIV)
It seems like trust issues started long before the outbreak of the 21st century. I mean if Gideon took a moment to go over God's track record, he would've seen that God never left His people. Although they turned their backs on Him, He always had grace and mercy to save them and invite them back home.
We still ask God for signs in our day-to-day lives, the only problem with signs is that they do not last. It will only take you a few days, as it did with Gideon, to ask for another sign.
If God sent you - He WILL provide for you.
I wonder why we struggle to trust God?
It's hard to trust someone you cannot see, but my dear friend if you cannot see Him in every aspect of your life then you might want to change your vision.
Or maybe it is because when He provides, it is not in the way that we expected Him to answer us.
We might also be lending our ears to the opinions of others based on their past hurt and experience. Not that it is wrong, but if their advice doesn't line up with His word, then you will find it hard to trust when things don't work out the way you planned them to.
“I will wait until you return.”
God is so patient with us, most of the time we think that we are waiting on God when He is just waiting for us to return to full surrender so that He can work in and through us. After Gideon surrendered he did as the Lord had said. He found thirty-two thousand men to fight against their enemy, the only problem was that the enemy that they were facing was an army of a hundred and twenty thousand men in counting. That's almost four to one.
Still, the Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
Judges 7:2-3 (NIV)
And even after another request, Gideon was left with three hundred men. Three hundred men were more than enough for God to show that it was by His hands and not by man's strength that His people were delivered. Once again God provided in a way that people would've never thought about. And although it didn't sound like the right plan at first, it was the perfect plan.
When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.
Judges 7:22 (NIV)
What would happen if we invite Him into our workspace, into our relationships, and our daily planner? How would nations be ruled if we pray that His Kingdom and His reign might come on earth?
Starting with you. God is sending you, even if He is sending you into a season of waiting and trusting in Him.
What I've learned in seasons of waiting is that the best attitude is gratitude - being thankful for what you already have and looking forward to what God has promised to give you in His perfect timing.
He is worth trusting friend, and if that might sound far fetched, go find a place in His Word where He didn't come through for His people. Your heartbeat is too important for Him to not notice you and make you part of His perfect plan and story.
The Author is waiting, the stage is set, time for us to get up, stop looking around for answers and start bringing The Answer to the world.
In Jesus we trust - may this be our anthem.
This is Jesus - Gas street music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JprLgun0yOU)
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