Life isn’t predictable, and often things don’t go right, and don’t work out according to our plans. There are many reasons for people to be frustrated and distressed. When a loved one is hurting, I want to reach out and take away the pain, but I’m not that powerful, so I give it all to God.
God can work miracles
That’s right, I have to give it all to God. I lay the pain and the frustration at the feet of my savior, Jesus, knowing that while I cannot perform miracles, He can, and He can change things none of us even know about so that everything works out for the best in the end.
We don’t know where the path leads. We don’t know all the details of what everyone involved is thinking. We can’t fix things in amazing ways, but He can.
God, bless the doubters, and give them faith
I am guessing you are either agreeing with me, or doubting this and disagreeing. I think some of the doubters may have already clicked away from this page.
Or maybe you’re someone who is never that desperate. Maybe you don’t have really bad things happen, so you don’t even know the need for God’s help. Could that even be?
I wish the doubters would just try it.
Skeptics, try giving your worst, your deepest, and most disturbing problems to God, and see what happens. My experience is that God works things out in ways I could never even think of. Things happen that I would never have imagined, and it all turns out fine in the end.
Sometimes there’s a deep sadness that just won’t go away. Something you wanted didn’t happen, or you did something that weighs you down with guilt, or you’re angry and as much as you try to get past it, the anger rears up in you again and again.
You can give that to God. Better yet, give your entire life to Him and His Son, Jesus, and see what happens.
Holy Spirit healing from within
When I became a Christian, which was only a few years ago, I didn’t know what I was getting into. I had read the Bible as a person who was not saved, and didn’t understand a number of key concepts that have come clear to me now that He has blessed me with salvation.
One of those things is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Before I was a Christian I tried many methods for finding enlightenment. The only thing I wouldn’t try was turning to Jesus.
But look, the one thing I turned away from was the answer I was seeking, because when I became a Christian the Holy Spirit came to live in my heart. It changes me from within, and cleanses me of all that isn’t working right in my life.
My son, the truck driver
My son drives a truck and tonight was stranded in Southern Idaho, full of fear, anger, and frustration. He isn’t one to pray for himself, but when I got off the phone, I prayed that God would help him through the situation.
He was unable to contact his manager before he called me, which was a good thing. I told him I’d rather he vented at me than at the people he works with.
I prayed for him as he made another call to a different terminal, and as I prayed, he got some information and encouragement from a co-worker. Then my friend called and we prayed together for a good resolution to the situation.
When my son phoned again about forty-five minutes later, the situation was much better. He was able to drive the truck to a nearby gas station to get the things he needed.
You see how God works? I couldn’t help my son from my vantage point of several hundred miles distant. Even if I had a car it would have taken hours for me to get there to help him. But I asked God to help, and to provide all he needs, and the situation is under control of the Divine Will, and good things are happening again.
The Lord is good. He provides for us in mysterious ways.
God is able to provide everything we need
At one time in my pre-Christian life I was worried about what I would do to earn money in my old age. I thought I might even end up homeless. But I prayed to God for help with my career, so that I could earn my living as a writer.
Well, guess what’s happening now? God has blessed me and provided for me. I’m earning my living as a writer, and I have everything I need, and some of what I want. Amazing, isn’t it?
Well, I’m truly amazed.
You may wonder why I wanted to be a writer. It is because I evaluated my life and talents in 1985 after my divorce, and decided that writing was the only thing I was really good at.
It isn’t what we expect, but it is what we need
At the time I prayed that prayer, I didn’t know the future. I thought I might sell my novels and make big bucks. That has never happened.
I earn money while writing on the internet. I’m an affiliate marketer, writing content for websites and earning from advertising opportunities. I’m not swimming in money but my bills are all paid and there’s plenty of food in my kitchen. Life is good.
A tale of two pastors
Last year I went to The Walk With Christ in Spokane Valley. It was absolutely phenomenal. At one point we had the opportunity to ask the pastors for prayer.
I went to the first pastor intending to ask for help with my family rights website, which is in need of God’s help due to my ongoing experience of inadequacy. Instead, while talking about my website, I mentioned my financial concerns and the pastor prayed that I would be aware of the Lord’s provision. God doesn’t leave us without what we need because we love and serve Him.
I got the message! It is wrong for me to worry about money. In fact, worry is a sin. It is like saying that we don’t think God knows what He’s doing. How sinful is that way of thinking?
Then I went to the other pastor and asked for prayer for my family rights website, and lo and behold, it was pretty interesting. Unknown to me at the time, he is not only a pastor, but also an attorney working for the public defender’s office in his county. Maybe it was meant for him to hear my concerns and needs for helping families involved in child welfare cases, because he’s probably meeting them too, in a different capacity. He told me that my prayer request blessed him.
When things don’t go right, remember, He’s got this
God is in control. He is watching over us every day. Of course, Christians don’t always have everything go right in their lives, but when it goes wrong, the Lord is there to help us through it.
Psalm 34:19 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” We must have faith. He knows what He’s doing, and He loves us.
Trust in Him. He’s got this.
Love to read how wonderfully things worked out with your son. I was thinking of him and not having heard about how he was doing since he said he might be going to Happy Camp for a little while! Feeling like quitting must be common, like the old “Don’t Quit!” poem, I was typing since being home out of commission with a cold for a few days, but the thing that really gives us HOPE is not only that there is the possibility of things working out, but because the Lord cares about us, it WILL work for our best even if we don’t see it at the time.
It is really neat the way “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28ESV Thanks for your encouraging thoughts!
Your thoughts are encouraging too, Judy. It makes me happy every time I think about how much Jesus cares about us – He gave up His life in a painful way for us… that shows how much He loves us. His love for us is pure unmerited favor . . . GRACE.
“I wish the doubters would just try it.” So do I, Linda, and I pray that even one doubter will read this article and trust God enough, just once, to lay their biggest problem at His feet then walk away and watch what happens. Can it be that simple? I’m here to support you in saying that yes, it can be – and it is! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Susan. Good to see you here! I only know God because I was willing to try talking to Him. Amazing how that works!
Beautifully said, Linda. I agree with you. Trusting in God doesn’t mean we won’t have problems; it means He will be with us and see us through the hard times.
God bless you.
It is pretty phenomenal to know that no matter what happens, it is in His hands and He’s leading us to a better future. Thanks for your comment, Beverly.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I often wonder how people who don’t know Jesus get through those hard places. There’s a lot of truth in the old saying, “Why worry when you can pray?’
I was so happy to see comments from you and Beverly this morning! I like that: “Why worry when you can pray?” Prayer is so much more effective than anything else I’ve tried. But, that’s another article I should write, one of these days.