Is it a strange thing?

In my earlier days, I wrote in sermons something to the effect, if you please God, He will give you what you need. I often got those sermons back with a note that essentially said, what if you don't get what you want? I tied the faithfulness of God to the getting of what you want or need, which is fine so long as what you are asking for is in God's will. What I wrote wasn't wrong, I just didn't understand it. I was lacking in experience.

I understand what I wrote a great deal more now than I did then. I don't think that anyone will say that the last few years have been fun. The Bureau of Labor Statistics places the number of unemployed for November of this year at 15.1 million people. So, is it still true; if you please God, will He give you what you need? Absolutely. So how do we wrap our minds around this concept?

What do they teach you in school? Your needs are food, clothing and shelter. So, we go about finding a program that pleases God and gives us all of these. Is it possible to seek the kingdom of God and miss a meal or two? Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing? There is more to life than food, clothing and shelter. Look at what Peter say about trials in I Peter 4:12-14. It is not strange when trouble comes: it would be strange if trouble never came.

Listen, this is what is going to make the difference when you are up against a trial that can level you. It is the pinnacle of God's faithfulness that we endure fiery trials: especially when we do everything right! Do you want to be moored in the harbor; or do you want to go out on the rough seas where you can experience the revelation of God's glory? God's glory rests on those who have been shucked of everything the world wants: and they stand and say take everything else, but give me Christ! The Bible speaks of people like this who were tortured, but would not accept release, because they wanted a better resurrection, they died at they hands of their torturers; because they wanted to please God more, and the Bible also records that the world was not worthy of them. Do not be dismayed when you have trials. Sail on! That God's glory may rest on you.