Most of my posts are about the authority we have in Christ, abundant life, or spiritual gifts. These posts are true, but sometimes we don’t see the miracles. Sometimes we have loads of faith and command healing, yet we just don’t see the results that we expect, and that frustrates us. This post is about those times when our lives don’t go as planned, and more importantly, don’t go according to what we think thank God has in store for us.
In the last church service that I was in, the preacher mentioned about the fact that what he was preaching, didn’t always mirror what was going on in His own life. I feel the same sometimes, always speaking about abundant life and the authority that we have in Christ, yet I don’t always see that in my own life. That doesn’t change the fact that I know it is true, it just means that I need to elevate my life up to that which the Bible says is possible, always remembering that there is no condemnation. Thinking about this, I was reminded about Joseph (with the coat), who was given a prophetic word that he would rule over his brothers. Next thing Joseph is in prison. He was probably wondering how he ended up there with the word that was given, but God was faithful and he did end up exactly where God said he would. It just didn’t happen as quickly as he may have hoped, in fact, he took a probably unexpected detour.
Of late, we have seen quite a few healings in our church, and I am grateful for what God has done. There have, however, been some people who weren’t healed. This bothered me. If we have this authority and we have the faith (to see healing), how come not everyone is healed? You know what, I don’t know why. There are some theories, but the bottom line is that we don’t always see what we want, when we want it. That doesn’t change the fact that God gives good things, it doesn’t change the fact that we have that Christ-earned, God given authority. It doesn’t change the fact that we have faith in God. In fact believing for miracles, even after you have ‘failed’ to see what you expected, shows faith. Even though I may pray for a miracle and not see it, I still believe that all things are possible in Christ.
I was watching the gold medal ice hockey match at the Winter Olympics. The Swedish players looked so depressed and unhappy while receiving their silver medals. I couldn’t help but think about that, I would have been ecstatic with a silver Olympic medal, but they looked so upset. You see when you have just lost a match and you are now handed a ‘loser’s’ medal, you feel like you have lost. The aim was to win and get gold, but you failed. However, if you asked them before the tournament if they would like a silver medal, you may have got a different reaction. Ask a young boy if he would like a silver Olympic medal one day, and he will be so excited, but when you lose the final it feels like a consolation. This may be the same with us. We expect God to heal all the time, so we spend more time wondering about the people who aren’t healed, than giving thanks for those who are. I find myself doing this sometimes. Are you maybe guilty of this?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” God is worthy of being praised and thanked just because of who He is, even if we don’t see miracles happen for us. I am not saying that we shouldn’t strive to be more like Jesus, or believe for the big miracles, in fact I encourage people to step out in faith. We just need to remember that even if things don’t always go our way, God is good, all the time. He is worthy of being praised, and I for one will continue to praise Him. Regardless of my circumstances.
To God be the glory!
Richard
walking on water ministries 