Relax! God is still in the process
Hubby and I sat up till very late last night trying to look at life from God’s perspective. How does God look at us from up there as we go about our rat race here on earth? We are all like the blind men in that story of three blind men and an elephant. The three men touched different parts of the elephant’s body and described the elephant in three different ways- they were all wrong. Only God has the complete view of life. Humans only see it in part. And because we do not see beyond our noses, we tend to question God a lot when certain unpleasant things happen to us.
Our discussion was triggered by a movie we had just seen. A Christian couple had waited on God for a child painfully for six years before they went on a 40-day fast after which the wife was raped by two men who came to rob their house. Yes, two men. Don’t raise your eyebrows yet. To crown it all, the woman became pregnant! That was the peak of their trial: the decision on whether to keep the pregnancy or not. I could feel the rage of the husband after the doctor broke the news. He definitely had a case to settle with God. If God were a man that one could see face to face that day, He definitely would have receive more than a few punches from that man. One is tempted to wonder sometimes how God feels comfortable watching sad things befall His faithful children. At the end of the movie however, we were able to make sense of the whole scenario. It was a very fine movie after all, filled with lessons for Christians.
Believe it or not, friend, God is still in the process. It only doesn’t seem to make sense just yet, but it will at the end. When a baby longs to put his hands in fire and the parent stops him from doing so, he cries. A time will come when he will be allowed to do as it pleases him but he won’t because he understands better. There are many things we plan for in life that do not forthcome. A better job, a faithful Christian for a life partner, travel abroad, fruit of the womb, better health, admission into our choice of higher institution, promotion, better marriage, financial freedom, and so on.
For the couple in that movie, all they desired was a child and they even tried alternative means to get pregnant but it never worked out. Why? God was still in the process. What about me? I wanted admission into a particular university so bad but the years kept moving past me and I never got it. Why? I was looking the wrong way. A sister may have been faithfully looking up to God for a suitable life partner for years now and none is in sight. A brother is probably working harder than his counterparts yet seems like the poorest of them all. You keep drawing out a plan for the perfect life you envisage but you keep landing at the other side of the bargain. Two things: it is either you are not going about it the right way or you are, but God is still in the process.
God still in the process!
What does this even mean?
At the end of the movie, hubby asked me “so what sense do we make out of the rape? To what end?” My only answer was “a test of faith”. The rape tempted them to make wrong assumptions and they would have made the mistakes of their lives if they had allowed the devil help them in their decision making towards that sad occurrence in their lives.
God is still in the process when you have played your cards right and he still hasn’t responded. He is building your confidence in Him while you are waiting. He is toughening you up in your spiritual height and you must not forget that He won’t deal you more than you can handle. According to Bob Marley, you never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
So calm down friend, it’s not the end of the world. Your faith just needs to be tested.
1 Peter 1:6-9
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
While you wait on Him
- Avoid comparisons. One thing I know that goes on in the head of an average woman is comparisons. Even if they don’t voice it out vocally, it is in their heads. One lady is thinking “all my friends are already with their own babies in marriage, and I’m still single” or “I’m still childless”. Another lady is thinking “I wish my husband can give me as much attention as Brother John gives his wife”. Yet another is thinking “if Sister Rose can wear all these costly outfits, why not me? Does she have two heads or is she more educated than I am?” There are series of comparisons that make us grow weary waiting on God. Have you thought of your mates that were already widowed before they reached your age? Or those that got their dream cars or houses yet barely have rest for their souls?
2 Corinthians 10:12
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
Every time you consider those ahead of you, it should be because you are learning lessons that will help you grow even beyond them. That is the spirit that keeps you going while you wait on God.
- Develop yourself. Someone said ‘while you are waiting on God, do what waiters do, serve!’ It is simple enough. You don’t wait on God to serve you while you go about your life on your own terms. You are on the wrong path. So while you wait on God for your dream man, make yourself His dream woman by improving yourself spiritually, mentally, emotionally and even physically. As you wait on God for your dream job, don’t stop learning new ideas on the job. Don’t ignore God or fellowship while job hunting. Volunteer to render a service in Church. It may be cleaning the hall, or assisting the secretariat, anything tangible. Amazingly God meets us at the most unlikely places sometimes. I have heard testimonies of persons going about one service or the other for God when they met someone that gave them their desired jobs. While you wait on God for a child, learn how to raise children in godly ways. There are children around you that you can use to build yourself on good parenting. Ruth was practicing being a good daughter-in-law when she met her husband, Boaz. Render service diligently for God while you await His response.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
In Conclusion
When you are having a hard time in life;
- Stop for a moment and ask yourself some hard questions. Are you seeking a good thing the wrong way?
- Don’t feel too proud or shy to check with those ahead of you to put you on the right part.
- Stop comparing yourself with others
- If you are sure you are not going about it the wrong way, then trust that God is up to something that will benefit you in the end. Wait for Him.
- And while you are at it, always remember that what truly counts lies within you.
Have you been blessed by this article, please share. You can also find related article here. Follow the Priceless Journal on facebook and twitter. For updates on new posts, don’t hesitate to subscribe for my newsletter. See you in my next post.
