Pray
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to be like His Son..."
- St. Paul, Romans 8:28-29
"God isn't at work producing the circumstances you want. God is at work in bad circumstances producing the you He wants.
- Anonymous
Hezekiah was the king of Israel when he received a threatening letter from the ruler of Assyria, Sennacherib. The Assyrian king demanded the total surrender of Israel and warned Hezekiah not to trust God. He warned that resistance meant they would have to "eat their own filth and drink their own urine before they died." ( 2 Kings 18:27) Gee Whizz!
Hezekiah took the letter, went up to the Temple and "spread it out before the Lord...and prayed this prayer:
O Lord, God of Israel, You are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth! You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord, and Listen! Open your Eyes, O Lord, and See! Listen to Sennacherib's words of defiance against the living God."
- 2 Kings 19:14-16
And God answered...in a Big Way! He rescued Israel! I wonder what kind of letter you would spread out before the Lord today...
...Maybe a letter from your doctor about a bad medical diagnosis
...Maybe a hurtful email from a former friend
...Maybe a letter of betrayal from a spouse
...Maybe a volley of accusations from your teenager
...Maybe a termination letter from your employer
...Maybe a letter describing an opportunity wasted or a love lost.
What Hezekiah knew is something you and I need to learn in spades… the God of heaven and earth is in absolute sovereign control over everyone and everything in creation, and He is big enough to bring Good out of every situation for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Not everything is Good. But our God is big enough to bring Good out of Bad. Sooo… what letter will you spread out before Him today?
A friend of mine was going through a particularly challenging season. He complained that he had tried everything and the problem was only getting worse. Finally, he looked at me and said, "Well, I guess all I can do now is pray!" What?! Prayer should never be a last resort for a Jesus follower… It should be a first response! Remember, we are talking about our Creator God who can work in Everything - not in Some things - in Everything to bring Good out of Bad.
So, don't just stand there… Pray! Do a Hezekiah… lay your letter before the Lord Jesus who can do something Good with it!
Pastor Harry