“Often when we want God to do something, the solution wouldn’t require much of him.”

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not (p. 46). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

He’s God and he can do it.  Yes, he can.

Craig says, “A quick nod. A spoken word. An answered prayer. In the grand scheme of things, just a small miracle. If only he would allow me to be rewarded for all my hard work! Or just heal my sick child! Or help my loved one overcome depression! Or break my sexual addiction! Or bring my prodigal child back home! Or at least let me win the lottery!”

He then says, “As we grow to trust God, we have to recognize what I consider to be some of the fundamentals of growing in the Christian faith: Awe. Respect. Reverence. Appreciation for God being God. Acceptance of our limitations as human beings. We can’t know everything or see into other people’s hearts. We can’t know all that has come before in the history of the world. And we sure can’t see ahead to how it will all unfold.  But God can.

“Like a master storyteller, he is crafting an epic in which he allows each of us to play a significant role. There are no minor characters or bit players in God’s story. We’re all important. He’ll never abandon us, and he’s working everything for our good.

“So when we’re suffering, ranting and raving about all the unfairness of life, we would do well also to remember that there’s so much more going on than we can see or understand from our limited perspective. We’re seeing only a tiny sliver of a much bigger story, perhaps only one sentence or one paragraph on just a single page.”

Later Craig says, “He would rather have you yell and scream at him than abandon your relationship with him in icy silence. Feel free to pour out your heart to him, as David did in Psalm 56:8: ‘Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?’ God welcomes your anguish and even your anger, but you don’t have to stop there. After you’ve laid bare your hurts and your questions—after you’ve exhausted yourself pounding against his chest—then listen.

“Open your hurting heart to him, and he will speak. Because even though God is almighty and all-powerful and rules over his kingdom, he also cares deeply about you. He loves you, and he will never abandon you. In fact, it’s usually at your deepest time of need that he meets you, comforts you, and lifts you into a place where healing can finally begin. But only if you’re willing to listen.”

So, will you open your hurting heart to him?  Will you let him speak to you, will you listen to him?  Will you?

Yes, yes!