As a Christian have you ever asked the question why? You’re trying to make it in life. You’re trying to have a successful marriage. And you are trying to raise Godly children. Maybe you are single and you are trying to find a truly godly husband or wife but it seems they are far and few between. What is God doing? Why are things in my life not going the way it should be for me being a Christian?
I have had these questions come up throughout my life. There are so many times that I have felt like, “Is God really there?” “Is He really working in my life?” “Does He really care?” I have struggle with looking at other “Christians” that seem to be on fire for the Lord and their lives are so put together. My question is to God, “Why do they have it easier than I do? What is going on, Lord?”
The number one wisest advice I can give you is do not look at people. People are not who we are trying to please and they should not be our example. God is our only true guide and example. Get into His Word.
But that still does not deal with the questions that nag our hearts, “Why me?” Here are a few ideas that I came to realize why some of the people I know have it “easier” than I do.
- They are relying on God. There are people who are so reliant on God that we do not see or know the struggles that they may be going through. They take their troubles to God and they surrender themselves to God and leave their problems with Him to solve. I tend to keep taking them back rather than leaving it with God. Somehow we think He can’t take care of things. What we do is give it to God and give Him a deadline to take care of it. God is not a puppet. I do want to add in here that there are people who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and they aren’t even considered a “Christian” but God honors them. They don’t even know that the are following God but when they are listening to that still small voice, that they don’t even know where it is coming from, they are following God’s leading.
- They are two-faced. I have found that there are people who appear to be a wonderful Christian. They pray beautiful prayers, do wonderful things, and seem to so love. They don’t seem to be having the attacks that I am getting as a Christian. But as I have gotten more involved with them I realize that they are really of the world. They haven’t given up anything for Christ. They are still doing all the worldly things that Christ has told us to shun. The devil is giving them a life of ease. He is making them feel comfortable. They are feeling just fine with their life. Remember there are only two powers. We cannot serve two masters.
- Those that are not following God. The third group is those that are not following God. There are only two powers. So if a person is not following God they are automatically in the camp of the devil. Why would the devil have to give any trials or discouragements to them? He already has them. He may even prosper them so that they are more attractive to us. It is not that they don’t have struggles but in appearance they seem to be being blessed. A lot of these people are really unhappy because only God can bring true happiness. How many of us have heard about people who seem to have everything, fame and fortune, but they end up committing suicide because they are not happy?
Where I really want to be is in the first group, relying on God. Our human nature just wants to get involved with God’s plan for our lives. I struggle with this quite regularly.
We have recently had financial difficulty. I have had to get a job outside the home. I already have been working in our home business but now I needed to add more. The Lord did provide me a job where they call me in when they have extra work and need my help. I told the Lord, “You provide the work I need through this company.” For the first several weeks I was really busy. They were saying how they were so busy compared to what they had been. Then things kind of dried up. They really wanted me there but the work just was not coming in. Of course my human nature took over and was asking God “why”. He knew we needed the money. I kept taking it and then giving it back to Him again. When I would give it back to Him they would call me in for a day or two to work. But then when they were caught up there was not work and I would say, “Lord, Why?” Then finally I gave it back to Him.
Then one day the boss asked me if I would be interested in a part-time job that would be more regular. One of the other employees needed to cut back to part-time. Now I can see God’s plan but I could not before. Now I am being trained in to an actual position in the company. Why does it take me so long to learn?
After that happened the Lord brought something to my attention. I read a quote that was referring to what patience means. “Accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it.” When I read this I was like, “Lord, You’re being loud and clear.”
The devil wants to try to discourage us by the things he brings into our lives but we need to allow God to use those things to refine our character. I believe that nothing comes into our lives unless it passes through the hands of God. God has to give permission and He only gives permission to those things that He knows will help us make the decisions we should and refine our character. Unfortunately we can’t see the things that the Lord does not allow through. If we could see all the things that the Lord protects us from we would be amazed.
So what is the conclusion to all of this? There are three things that I would recommend doing.
- Don’t look at people. We cannot read the heart of any person. We can’t know the situation of any person. But God sees it all. Leave other people with Him and don’t use them for your example in life. People will always disappoint us.
- Focus on God. Keep your focus on God alone.
- Give everything to God and let Him work out the details. We need to cooperate with God but let Him take control of all things. Just like when I applied for the job that was, “We will call in when needed”, I had to rely on the Lord. But I also couldn’t sit back and wait for someone to knock on my door and say we have a job for you. That is not how God works. We step forward and do, and then He does the rest. But we have to leave the outcome in His hands after we have stepped forward.
Human nature wants to be in control so it is hard to fully hand it to God and let Him take care of it. You all have probably heard the saying that goes something like this, “God is never too late but rarely early but always on time.”
It is a hard thing to trust God but I have found that as I have the outcome is so much better. The more we trust the more we can see the hand of God in our lives and then it makes it easier to trust. Having a journal can be a good way to remember what God has done for us later on when things seem tough. You can go back and read what the Lord has done.
Dear Father,
Thank You for Your love and patience. Thank You that You love us so much You do not give up on us. Continue to guide us.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Give everything to God today. You can trust Him.
What have you found to be the most helpful way to learn to trust God?