Faithful living, no matter what the outcome

 Sometimes, it amazes me how much we try to bend God to our will.  Even phrases like, "it was an answer to prayer" express our desire for God to do our will.  How many times have we prayed and said "it was an answer to prayer" when we got what we wanted?  What do we do when we don't?  Do we rant at God and wonder where He is and why He isn't listening?  It is still an answer to prayer - just a "no" or a "not yet" even though we wanted a "yes."  We forget that, as Christians, we are to be fully submitted to GOD'S will, not Him submitted to ours.  Just because we want something doesn't mean we should have it.  Just because we don't want something doesn't mean we shouldn't have it.  God knows best.  

In the book of Daniel, we are told of three friends who faced a fiery trial.  They refused to worship the king's idol, and so they were to be thrown into the fiery furnace.  The king gives them one last chance and this is their response:  "O, Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18, emphasis mine).  Did you notice that little phrase?  "But even if He does not."  These men were praying for rescue, but they were leaving room for God's will to be done.  They had confidence that God was capable of saving them, but they also trusted that He knew what the best outcome would be.  Over the generations, there have been plenty of Christians who have faced a fiery death and God said, "come on home!"  Does that mean He didn't answer their prayers?  No.  He answered their prayers with what was best for them and for the kingdom.  

Sadly, we don't often pray with the kind of trust that leaves room for God's will.  We want healing for our loved one with cancer, but we don't leave room for permanent healing, only temporary earthly healing.  We don't want our kids to hurt or suffer, but we do want them to learn the lessons that hurt and suffering brings.  We want there to be world peace, happy children who aren't hungry and war ravaged, no more poverty or violence or natural disasters, but we refuse to acknowledge the sin permeating our world causing these things.  We refuse to humble ourselves and pray penitently for God's will.  

Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26, prays three times for God to change His mind about how salvation must unfold.  But God doesn't change His mind, and Jesus makes it clear that, no matter what God decides, He will do the will of the Father, no matter how hard it is.  Leaving room for God's will to prevail means that we are acknowledging that He knows best.  That we are His servants.  That we are trusting Him no matter how bad it looks through human eyes.  Let's face it, when Jesus went to the cross, that looked like defeat through human eyes.  Now we know what a victory that was over sin and death.  We have to trust and hold on, even when we can't see how what is happening could possibly be best.  When our loved one is dying of cancer.  When our children are hurting.  When there is hunger and poverty and violence and terror throughout the world.  

"Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him."  Job 13:15a