Lately I have realized how very quickly life can take a
major turn, and without advance notice. People
prayed for me while I was sick, and I recovered. But sometimes people pray their hearts out, and
there is no recovery. What does that mean? If I, or anyone else, die before reaching a ripe old age, or ends up with a lesser quality of life than I planned, does that mean God
failed me? Did He not hear the
prayers? Does He not care?
I know of someone whose mother had
a major health crisis and was desperately and gravely ill. This person prayed and prayed and
prayed. His mother died. He now refuses to acknowledge that there’s a
God, and hates Christians. Did God fail
his mother? Did God fail him?
If you look at God as a genie in a bottle, then I guess sooner or later you’re going to be disappointed. God is
not here to take direction from US. We are here to
take direction from HIM. He’s not here
to please us; we’re here to love, obey and please HIM. He can
get along fine without us, but we’re in trouble without HIM. I
think too often people put themselves at the center of their universe, and
expect God to be orbiting around them, answering their prayers just exactly how and when they desire. In reality it is the all-knowing,
all-powerful Creator of it all who should be (and is) in the center of it all. He knows best, and we don't always know His reasons.
Every single one of us is assigned a number of
days (Job 14:5). Some of us have many
days; some, few. Our numbers were assigned with a reason and a
purpose. To be mad at God because our
days are up is ridiculous. In the case
of the person mentioned earlier, well, his mother was going to have to die at
some point. We all do. Would there have been any number of days that would have been satisfactory to him?
What does God owe us?
What do we deserve? Well, as
someone who has known God’s word and deliberately disobeyed (plenty of times, unfortunately), I thank God that I have not gotten what I deserve. I don’t want what I deserve! In all fairness, God should throw up his
hands in disgust and say, “Fine. Have it
your way. Good luck. I’m tired of messing with you.” Instead of getting what I deserve, I got
mercy and grace, and will get the same as I go through the number of days I
have left, whatever that may be.
So, God did not, and will not, fail me, no matter what the future holds. And He won’t fail you, either.
