We all have wants and desires. We want what we want when we want it. And typically, that is now. As time goes on, we seem to get less and less patient. Our prayer life is no different. When we pray for something and don’t receive it immediately, we do one of three things. A.) We pray some more and hope that God will answer, B.) we take things into our own hands and attempt to get what we want without Him, or C.) we get angry with God. But God’s ways are not ours. They are bigger, better, and eternal.
During these uncertain times, it is pretty safe to say that we have all been lifting up an abundance of prayers. We have been praying for the halt of the coronavirus, the leadership of our country, and even for social justice and peace. And, of course, we want it now. But we must remember that God’s ways are not ours.
These issues are not what God had planned. This chaos is not what He desires for us. He desired the Garden of Eden; a paradise with Him. And He desired health, peace, and love for us. His plans are for our good and His glory. They are bigger, better, and eternal.
At times, we will face trials and we will have burdens. But God is still on the throne. “God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.” Psalm 47:8.
He wants us to love one another and for us to have peace. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34. If we live out this command, there will be peace.
God wants us to be healed.
Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
When this verse says, “…by his wounds we are healed”, it doesn’t mean that we get over whatever physical ailment we may have. And it certainly doesn’t mean that Covid will disappear tomorrow. It means that we were healed from our sin and given new life.
God is a lot less concerned about our physical bodies than He is our heart.
He wants us to desire a relationship with Him. He wants to forgive us so that we can spend eternity with Him.
So, when we are praying, we can’t have the mindset that we want what we want and we want it now. Because God’s ways are not ours. His ways are bigger, better, and eternal.
Things don’t always work out the way we want them to. We won’t always get what we want and we won’t always get it now. God’s ways are not ours.
We live in a fallen world. Awful things happen. The enemy is present, creating as much havoc as he possibly can on this earth.
So when awful things happen, we can’t blame God. After all, we live in a world that rejects Him.
It’s not God who convinces people to hate their neighbors. He tells us to love Him and our neighbor. “Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31.
God didn’t want us to live in a world with sickness and death. That was a result of that first sin in the Garden of Eden. And part of the reason that we are more susceptible to illness is that we do not treat our bodies as we should. We do not treat them as the temple of the Holy Spirit. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” 1 Corinthians 6:19.
And He doesn’t want us to be lead by leaders who desire only their own plans and advancement. He told us what kind of leaders to select, but we don’t do it! “Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” Exodus 18:21.
Despite all the turmoil and chaos that this world/life brings us, there is hope for peace, health, and joy. It awaits us when we repent of our sins and ask Jesus to be Lord of our lives. It lies in Heaven and will last for all eternity. Never again will there be wars, illness, or self-seeking leaders. Because His plans are bigger, better, and eternal.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4.
God’s ways are not ours. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9. His ways are bigger, better, and eternal.
Life on this planet will not be perfect… but Heaven will! And God provided it so that we could live there with Him, away from all the pains and trials of this life. And we will live there with Him for eternity. Thank you, Jesus.
Father, we pray that you would heal our land. This life may hold self-seeking leaders, illness, and hatred. But you are our peace (when we accept it from you). You lead us in a way that glorifies you and is for our good (when we let you). And you will heal us, perhaps not of our physical illness, but from our sin. Thank you, Jesus, that Heaven will await us. And that we can have access to it through your shed blood and forgiveness. Thank you, Father, that your ways are not ours. Thank you that your ways are bigger, better, and eternal! We love you and pray this in your precious and holy name, Jesus.
Have you been in fear of the outcome of our elections, the coronavirus, and/or the lack of peace and social justice in the world? God tells us to FEAR NOT. And, when we are followers of Jesus Christ, we know that it is because He is in control and has our best interest at heart. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, please take a look at our Life Preserver page (http://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). All that is required to experience the peace of God, the hope for tomorrow, and the healing of our sins is a simple prayer. There is one outlined on that page. Please pray that prayer.
God’s ways are not ours. They are bigger, better, and eternal. And they are for YOU! He wants to forgive you, love you, and spend eternity with you. Please pray that prayer and, when you do, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
