So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word
of Christ. Romans 10:17
Have you ever been in a
situation that was confusing as to what you thought you needed to do? I am talking about a situation that you
really could go two different directions and either might be right. These situations are the hardest in
life. There is no good answer and too
many options that could be perceived as right.
You may have talked to friends, or been given unsolicited advice from
many well-meaning people. You may have
prayed and prayed and asked for God’s clear direction but still feel unsure
about what to do. That is when you do
nothing, but pray and wait.
Not too long ago I was in
a situation similar to the one I have described. I had received many words of advice and
concern from friends, and I had prayed long and hard asking for God’s clear
direction. I knew there were some things
I could do but they were the hard way
to deal with it and I really just wanted God to fix it for me.
Then one night I was
awake in the middle of the night taking care of a sick family member and while
I was waiting to be able to go back to sleep, I reached down and picked up one
of the many Christian books, by a very well-known and credible author, I had
been reading and scouring for answers to my situation. I literally opened the book to a random page
and right there, on the very page were words that seemed to be a direct answer
of how to handle the situation. It really
was more than advice, almost a command on how it should be done. It seemed so black and white, so simple,
complicated because it is a complicated issue to deal with, but clear as a bell
as to what I believed God was saying to me.
Needless to say, I was
totally taken off guard and could not believe that this had happened to
me! In the middle of the night God might
as well have appeared in my room and spoke to me in a deep ethereal voice with
a cloud of smoke surrounding Him. I was a little discouraged as well because it
was not God fixing it for me; it was me, minimally equipped but charged by
Him.
God Still Writes on the Wall (Sometimes)
It doesn’t happen often
but there are rare times that God truly just plants the answer you have been
seeking smack dab in front of your face.
When this happens it is so obvious what the right answer is. However, sometimes that may not be what we
wanted the answer to be. Sometimes it
requires action on our part that is uncomfortable and hard. Answers to our prayers sometimes require us to
do hard things.
Hard Things
Many times I think the
answer that God gives so clearly in the end may be the answer He has been
gently trying to give us all along and we have not been listening closely
enough. Maybe we have been ignoring the
answer He is giving because it is the hard thing we don’t want to do. Don’t turn a deaf ear, waiting to hear the
response you want. That response may not
be the best answer for you, or for others involved. It changes things when the difference between
the answer you want and the answer
you get is someone else’s spiritual
well-being. Of course God alone can save
people but you may be the person they will listen to and the instrument He
intends to use to open their eyes. It is
not a fun job but it is an important job.
So when you are praying
and waiting, be sure you are really
listening to hear everything God wants you to know. He might be speaking to you already!
Scripture to Claim:
How blessed are those who
observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart. Psalm 119:2
