Why are you facing troubles in your life and why doesn’t God do anything about it? He could just show his mighty power and deliver a perfect solution! I hear questions and statements like that a lot. It would be so nice if God would just move his hand and change our circumstances right away! But most of the time, life isn’t that easy….
In Judges, Chapter 6, we find the prophet Gideon in a similar situation:
“Pardon me, my lord”, Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, “Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?” But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” Judges 6, 13
At that time, the Israelites were being oppressed by a nation called Midianites. Gideon accuses the Lord of not intervening on his and his peoples behalf. He looks back at Israel’s history and past situations when God rescued them in hopes of a sign of relief.
Now look at God’s answer.
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” Judges 6,14
Not the answer we hoped for, right? God doesn’t really address the question. He demands that Gideon fulfills the call on his life. GIDEON should do something about the situation he is in. Gods question to the prophet, if he is not sending him, infers that the Lord is with Gideon.
Maybe God is telling you to take responsibility and change something about your circumstances yourself. Do you need to change your attitude about your situation? Or do you just have to press forward no matter what? How does Gideon’s story speak to your life?
“Pardon me, my lord”, Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Judges 6,15
This is how we argue with God, isn’t it? At first we say “God! Do something! Why don’t you do anything?” And God replies, that he called Gideon to do it. The Lord is saying that you too: YOU are called to do something about it! And then follows Gideon’s plea; “I am weak.” Or you might be saying “I don’t have the resources to fulfill my calling.”
Stop mourning! Read on… hope is on the way!!
The Lord answered: “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Judges 6,16
What is your battle at the moment? God is with you and he will fight the big battle. But he wants you to focus on YOUR calling and the mission you have been given here on earth. And God will be with you. That is his promise. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31,6). Through all your trials and struggles, he is with you. And he will fight the things in your life that you can’t control. But you have to work with him and do your part.
So, focus on what you can do now. We can’t always figure out why things happen to us or why we have to endure such troubles. But we certainly can do something about it! And this is what you should focus on.
Ask the Holy Spirit in prayer for wisdom and direction. Most of the time, the Lord will not pour out fire from heaven or come down with a lot of noise. And I guess a burning bush hasn’t been seen talking since Moses…
Many times, God’s Spirit is talking to our hearts. And you will know deep down what you should do.
How does Gideon’s story continue? He started depending more and more on the Lord and believed his promise. God lead him and told him what to do and eventually, they won the battle with only 300 men! The Midianites fled when they heard the trumpets of the Isrealits.
No matter what circumstances you are facing right now, do your part and trust in the Lord! He is with you; he leads you and gives you strength!!
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