As a parent, have you ever struggled with telling your child, “No,” even when you knew it was the right answer? As our heavenly Father, have you ever considered how hard it must be for God to tell His children, “No, you may think you want that, but I know better?” How God must have anguished as Jesus prayed for another solution to our sinful nature, “Let this cup pass from me, but not my will but Yours be done.” Ouch, as a parent! Double ouch, when the plan moves forward. Triple ouch, when Jesus is murdered on the cross, and then ‘Ah, sweet victory!’ when he is risen from the dead. But, Lordy, what a path of anxiety, anguish, and adrenaline to watch your child endure!
“How long, O Lord?” is asked many times in scripture, from patriarchs, prophets, and priests in God’s service. “Why me, Lord?” was one of Moses’ favorites. How these pleas must tug on God’s emotional heart strings! Today we ask, “What have I done to deserve this?” or say, “No good deed goes unpunished!” We complain because we don’t understand “The Big Picture” in His plan. I have had more than one sleep deprived night entreating God for explanations to events I don’t understand. Sometimes His answer is “No.” Sometimes there is no answer at all, and so I wait. “How long, O Lord, before You explain this to me?”
No, being a full-time pulpit minister has not given me a more direct God-line like the old Bat-phone on TV. We all already have the most direct line, the prayer line, even if it feels like we are on hold, like, forever.
Grace & Peace, Charles.