Confessions of a Quick Thought...

This is going to be a shorter post than most. And while I normally try to incorporate witty thought and humor coupled with storytelling into most of my posts, believe me when I say, I’m too tired. The end of the summer has been go go go. And so, insert witty funny statement of your own here. But allow me if you will to share a quick thought that I’ve been thinking of for a few days now.

I think so many times in our Christian walks we believe a watered down version. of the prosperity doctrine. We’re not quite at the Joel Ostene level of “God only does good for Christians. Once you’re a Christian God is going to bless your life and you’ll never worry about money or family again.” We recognize that’s not correct thinking but I think so much we believe a doctrine that really has more in common with that then we think. I’ve heard so many times “oh well we’ll keep praying and God will do it.” Or “I know times are hard and I’m facing this struggle but God will make it okay.” And this can be an even harder thing to distinguish, but in some ways is not much different than the prosperity doctrine. Yes, God has promised He will never leave you, nor forsake you. He has promised that He works all things for good. He has promised us that even suffering has a point. He has promised us that good things will come from our suffering. He has rescued and restored more often than not. BUT He never promised it would always happen our way. Read 1 Peter 4 if you doubt.

But that “but” is the thing we often miss. And so we create our own watered down doctrine of the prosperity “Yes, God has thrown me into the fire, but He will come save. Yes there is cancer, but He will heal me.” Or “Yes, alcoholism is a big problem, but I’ll keep praying and God will hear me and change him.” Make no mistake. Yes, God will hear you. Yes, God will work this out for good. Yes God will always be there in the midst of it. Yes God is faithful. But God may not pull you out of the fire. He may not heal the cancer. That alcoholic may never turn his life around. Good people may still die too young. Children may still go through horrific things. So don’t be misled to think that just because you’re a Christian and God is powerful that’s He’s always going to charge in like a superhero and save the day. He is gracious, He is good, and He loves us, and so He does come in and save the day a heck of a lot. More than we deserve. And we can praise Him for that and be thankful. But even if He leaves you in the fire, He is still God, worthy of praise. Your present circumstances do not dictate His Lordship. 

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." -Daniel 3:17-18