I remember asking for something that I really had no idea what the outcome was going to be. Oh, I had my idea of what I wanted the outcome to be… unfortunately it turned out to be so not what I wanted and oh how I wish I could have had that conversation over again … or not even had that conversation. I had not really sought God on the outcome. Unfortunately, this happened more than once when I was younger. I wanted what I wanted, and it just didn’t turn out like I thought it would. I had many years of heartache to work through because I pushed for a decision and did not seek God’s guidance.
This post is about some occurrences in my life that didn’t turn out quite like I thought they would, yet, they have turned into blessing upon blessing! Unlike what the first paragraph describes. I can only truly remember praying and having a conversation with God about situations in my life only in the last several years or so. Well, like I have said before… I guess there were those times when I kind of gave God some lip service, but never really knew God and sought His will for my next step in any situation. Oh, how I wish I had not wasted so many years! However, I am making the most of it now! I am so excited to be on this new journey with my God! He is always surprising me!
People ask me about my job situation from time to time. If you have read many of my posts, you may know that I was working in a job that is not what I had ever done in the past. It was a very humbling experience and yet I would not trade the time there for anything. Why? Because it was an experience I needed to have. I grew, was stretched, and grew some more. I met so many diverse people that have touched my life so wonderfully and hopefully I have touched theirs. I asked God to give me a “better” job with “better” pay and hours, but you know what? He did not do this in my time. He had reasons for keeping me there. He was not through with me yet and I was finally glad to be used by Him in whatever brings Him glory. The reason I was there may have been for someone else and not for me. So… I ask, but I asked for His will and not mine. I finally came to the realization that if another job is what He wanted me to have He will provide the open door to walk through. But I am not afraid to ask Him… because I know He loves me!
I know now that when asking for something I must seek God’s opinion, God’s guidance. I know it will turn out for my best if I do that! Believe you me, I have experienced the other side of that and do not care to go back to that again! Thank you very much! That is not to say that it’s always rosy because life happens. We live in a fallen world and bad things happen… even to good people. God doesn’t cause them, but He allows them for His reasons. We may never know why but remember what I say … that one of my pastors said … “God is God, and I am not.” If you ever wonder and want to see God’s response to Job read this – Job 38 – 41 – and see why God is God. I love the response God gives Job.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?…” read more …
Our situation probably is a little different than Job’s though… maybe not. There is one thing I do know though… God doesn’t mind any questions. He loves to have conversation with His children. He is always available to ask anything of.
Sometimes the answers are not clear to us though. I know that is hard. If you don’t hear God in your heart or spirit, just wait and don’t do anything. Just keep your eyes on Him and wait. You can continue to ask though. That is one of the things I learned from listening to the Bible and all the stories of all the wonderful people in the Bible. They were not afraid to ask and negotiate with God. The first incident that comes to my mind is when Abraham negotiated with God about destroying Sodom and Gomorrah.
Abraham’s nephew Lot had chosen to live in Sodom and there came a time when God told Abraham that He was going to destroy the city because the inhabitants had become so debase and wicked. Abraham knew Lot lived there so he began to ask God if there were 50 good men in Sodom would he destroy it… and on and on. See this scripture Genesis 18:16-33. Abraham keeps negotiating with God until they get to 10 good men in the city. Well, there were not even 10 good men, only Lot, his wife, and daughters. The story is a great one, but I really like the way Abraham talks with God about it. We need to feel that comfortable with talking with God. He is our Creator! He loves us so much. He is not a tyrannical, control freak! He is a loving, slow to anger, gracious and kind God. He longs for a relationship with us! Just be aware that if you continually ask God for something and you really are just wanting it just for “YOU” … be careful what you ask for. God may give it to you, and you may be like I was before… not really knowing what the outcome of the situation was going to be and it turn out different that you expect. If you ask God with the right heart, you will have a better understanding of how to deal with whatever happens in the outcome. There is a scripture that I love … Romans 8:28. “All things work together for good for those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”
He can make it work! He is God and we are not! And He loves you so much. After all He calls you His beloved.
Leah
Le**@My*******.com
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