Is immediate relief part of how God works? Sure. Jesus & his disciples healed and delivered multitudes that came to them, and it even says immediately a few times. Luke 5:13, 18:43, Acts 9:34. But immediate relief can’t become our only or main expectation of how God works, because scripture talks a LOT about waiting, and trusting, and enduring. Whether its 40 years in the desert, or many years in prison, or decades in exile… story after story shows God’s children living through circumstances that scream the opposite to what God has promised. I look to these stories and am bewildered by the length of time God’s people spent imprisoned or exiled or oppressed, and yet continued to believe and declare that God was their Faithful Deliverer – generations passed on their faith to following generations before seeing that deliverance. They knew faith, trust and patience in a way that I don’t – and that I need.
We must be equipped to be patient and to wait on God, to trust in Him as we live through realities that are the opposite of what He has promised, until those promises are fulfilled. We must be able to trust His faithfulness towards us and not lose hope when time lags on. To believe that He will do what He says, that He is who He says He is. Especially if we are in a world that is closer to the end times than the beginning times – if so, trial is not going anywhere but is guaranteed to become more intense. Thanks to the psalms, we know we can express our frustrations of these circumstances to God. We don’t have to pretend that we are something we aren’t – if we are upset or confused or frustrated or feel like its been too long, we are allowed to say so! But in all the ones I’ve been reading, the psalmists do come back to that place of declaring God is faithful, good, unfailing, and will bring about justice on behalf of His children. Here is one example. Psalm 131 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. These following verses are very encouraging to me - they remind us that God is the Almighty in control, that His timing is well and truly within that control, and He will faithfully bring about what He has promised. Remember that He WILL restore you. Daniel 7: 22 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. Habakkuk 2:3 The Lord replied; “For the revelation (the “revelation” refers to justice being brought about for the righteous) awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Psalm 31:14-16, 18, 2414 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love… Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege… Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Malachi 3:16-17 The Faithful Remnant 16 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. 17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. Psalm 27:13-14 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Want more? Zephaniah 3:17-20, Nahum 2:2, Genesis 39:20-21, Micah 7:7-8
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AuthorWe are Brad, Andy, Hunter and Belle. Hoping to keep you connected! Archives
May 2019
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