When times don't change
I've been thinking lately about what Christians should do when things don't change, perhaps can't change. Now, God is able to change the times of His people drastically and sometimes immediately and He promises to be with us always. His prophets spoke His word that at times invaders would not come in to their cities (Is. 36) And at other times they would (Jer. 38).
My thinking on this issue is more for individual situations. Like for example, if a son is born with an incurable condition or if a wife is an unbeliever or if a terrible accident has taken place or if, in history, a man became a slave to a cruel master.
When things are boiled down, the Bible has something to say to each of these situations. God can reverse "incurable" by miracle or medicine. God will safeguard the institution of marriage, God will care for the maimed by his church, God will empower the slave to serve under cruelty and count it to him as a blessing. I guess the question I've been thinking of lately is what if God chooses not do a miracle for your situation or to change your time and circumstance? What if His purpose is for you to endure and learn to worship Him where you are?
I think one, He teaches us faithfulness and to keep hope. To claim a situation is irreversible just because you've dealt so long with it, is to fail in your hope that God is who He says He is. Two, I think God, since He is with us always, IS working to change our situation, if only He is working to change us and our perspective. He wants to make us stronger saints, not deliver us to easy situations. How often have we prayed for patience or wisdom knowing that He will answer (James 1:5) only to find our situation became ten times more difficult and odious to us? We cry for deliverance immediately, not the worst of gut reactions to be sure. But then perhaps God asks us, "Did you not pray for patience and wisdom? How better can you find that I provide these to you than when you are in trying situations?" James again says that we should "purify your hearts you doubleminded!" (3:8)
So I think, that at the end of the day, to use a phrase my pastor frequently does, we should rest in the truth that our God is sovereign over us; that we have no rights that He didn't give us and can't revoke even, if it will serve His glory and our good; that He knows what He is looking for in His people, which people can bear what burden for Him and so "fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ" (Col. 1:24).
God alone does not change, but He changes everyone and everything else to suit Himself.
My thinking on this issue is more for individual situations. Like for example, if a son is born with an incurable condition or if a wife is an unbeliever or if a terrible accident has taken place or if, in history, a man became a slave to a cruel master.
When things are boiled down, the Bible has something to say to each of these situations. God can reverse "incurable" by miracle or medicine. God will safeguard the institution of marriage, God will care for the maimed by his church, God will empower the slave to serve under cruelty and count it to him as a blessing. I guess the question I've been thinking of lately is what if God chooses not do a miracle for your situation or to change your time and circumstance? What if His purpose is for you to endure and learn to worship Him where you are?
I think one, He teaches us faithfulness and to keep hope. To claim a situation is irreversible just because you've dealt so long with it, is to fail in your hope that God is who He says He is. Two, I think God, since He is with us always, IS working to change our situation, if only He is working to change us and our perspective. He wants to make us stronger saints, not deliver us to easy situations. How often have we prayed for patience or wisdom knowing that He will answer (James 1:5) only to find our situation became ten times more difficult and odious to us? We cry for deliverance immediately, not the worst of gut reactions to be sure. But then perhaps God asks us, "Did you not pray for patience and wisdom? How better can you find that I provide these to you than when you are in trying situations?" James again says that we should "purify your hearts you doubleminded!" (3:8)
So I think, that at the end of the day, to use a phrase my pastor frequently does, we should rest in the truth that our God is sovereign over us; that we have no rights that He didn't give us and can't revoke even, if it will serve His glory and our good; that He knows what He is looking for in His people, which people can bear what burden for Him and so "fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ" (Col. 1:24).
God alone does not change, but He changes everyone and everything else to suit Himself.