There is a joke that goes around between men and women that goes: Ladies, if a man tells you he’s going to do something, believe him. So, there is no need for you to remind him every six months to fix the leaking faucet; he WILL do it before he dies.”
Fortunately for us God is not man! However, because He is God, He can set His own schedule. What he says he will do will get done. You might die, but He won’t, and what He says He’ll do, will still get done.
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. — Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
I believe, have faith, and live by that verse with every ounce of my being. You cannot shake me on that verse! It is what makes God, God: His word! If heaven and earth pass away, you can still stand on His word. The irony of it, is that I believe in it so much, it has gotten me in trouble! “How is that possible? That doesn’t make any sense.” you ask? First, this is not a brag, flex, or anything to be proud about. This, and this overall post, is a warning so that you can learn and humble yourself before God as you wait for his promises. Even then, with your humbling, do not expect God to move faster; He moves at His own will, not yours.
So, why has this gotten me into trouble? Well, when you fully understand that verse, the omnipotence of God, you know that when He declares something, it must happen; it MUST! God’s declarations stand on their own, they are not hindered by disbelief or lack of faith. That is a wonderful place to be in God! However, it also means that you understand that if God doesn’t do something, it’s not because He can’t, you don’t believe, or lack faith, but He didn’t do it because He either did not want to (not in His will/name), or because He simply wasn’t ready to do it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. — Habakkuk 2:3 (KJV)
The second “tarry” in that verse does not contradict the first one, it means there will be an end to the waiting (tarrying will stop). My trouble in the past, as well as many examples in the bible, has been the waiting part. At the end of the day, what this really all boils down to is trust.
As an example, God talked and communed with Abraham so much, that He considered him a friend. God also made several promises to Abraham, one of which was to give him a son to be his heir. When God wasn’t moving fast enough though, for them, Abraham and Sarah decided to take matters into their own hands. I don’t believe Abraham did “not” believe God; he just didn’t trust Him. As a result, Abraham and Sarah created a mess that is still being seen in the Middle East today. We have so many more examples like this in the bible where people did not wait, but instead tried to do things themselves and ended up with a mess for generations to come. Do not get ahead of God! Wait and trust Him, or the result of not doing so will be disastrous.
We always tend to focus on faith, but belief, faith and trust are three different things. While they are all very close, especially faith and trust, you can have one without the others. An example of this is when Ezekiel replies:
And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. — Ezekiel 37:3 (KJV)
Study the bible, namely the Old Testament patriarchs and matriarchs, and see how they all faired with each. Consider this homework 🙂 Pray and ask The Spirit to help you study.
As of this writing, I’m 50 and there are things that I’ve been praying for since I was 15. Over the years, I’ve gotten upset, thrown tantrums, try guilt tripping God, and had self-pity parties, because I have not gotten what I prayed for. I didn’t do those things, because of disbelief or lack of faith, but because God wasn’t doing them the way I wanted: on my schedule. I’m so glad God looked on me with grace and mercy as well as had patience with both my ignorance and arrogance!
Today, at 50, I’m glad that I can say I trust that He will do the things that I’ve been praying for since I was 15. It’s taken a long time to get to this place, part of it, if not most of it, comes with age, but part of it also comes from getting closer with God; again, that’s a time thing. I cannot count all of the miracles, revelations and movement God has done in my life, even on things I didn’t ask for. He clearly knows and cares about every minute detail in our lives, so again it’s not about believing or having faith, but about trusting God. And, if you trust, you will wait. Now, I wait with joy and anticipation for when and how He will do things. He heard me the first time when I prayed for each thing, and since they are in His name, they will come to pass. In fact, there is really no need to pray about them anymore since they are on his calendar.
I said that this post was a warning, but I pray that you will take it beyond that and make it an encouragement for yourself. Make your life easier by believing, having faith, and most of all trusting in God.
If you are not saved/redeemed please do so today.
Come to God open, empty and without statements.
Ask him to be real to you and believe in Him.
Humble yourself before Him, confess who you are, and tell Him that you are sorry for your sins.
Ask Him to forgive you and to come into your life and start a personal relationship.
Believe this and be born again!
May God bless and keep all who read this.
May God bless and keep all brothers and sisters, new and old in the faith, in his name.
With his love and mine,
Chrom