It’s not coincidental that I am back in the beginning of the Old Testament again. God has a message for me, and maybe he has one for you, too.
Like me, you may be wrestling with challenging circumstances — the loss of someone you love, betrayal, hurt, physical pain, sickness, work stress, parenting stress, a difficult spouse. I don’t know what it is for you, but the first part of the year were some of the most difficult months I have ever lived through. They weren’t what I expected, and I wasn’t happy about them at all. In fact, I was disappointed with God.
Like the Israelites in the desert, I wondered why he had taken me this route, why it felt like his promises had not come true for me. I had this laundry list of expectations of what God should be and do for me that I forgot to worship him as holy and awesome.
Failing to acknowledge him for who he is made me question his goodness. I remember a conversation with my mom, who encouraged me to keep hoping and praying that I would recover, and I replied with cynicism, “What should I pray, mom? I don’t know what to pray. How do I know that God wants to heal me? How do I know that getting better is part of his plan?”
In other words, I started to doubt that God was after my good.
During one conversation with my husband, Edric, I recall saying, “I am not sure if I know who God is anymore. It’s as if the God I used to think I know isn’t really the God that is. And I am not sure how to approach him.”
All the things I wrote about in my book, When a Good God Allows Rape, seemed difficult for me to apply in the context of sickness and nearly losing my life to major surgery.
Just like the Israelites, I was worried, stressed, depressive, and worst of all, complaining in my heart against God. It wasn’t until recently, during my quiet times with the Lord, that I felt so convicted about my grumbling. As I read chapter after chapter about the holiness and awesomeness of God, I felt ashamed.
Who was I to bring God down to my level? To question him? This was no small thing, to complain against God. Grumbling cost the Israelites the promise land.
“And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place. But even after all he did, you refused to trust the Lord your God, who goes before you looking for the best places to camp, guiding you with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. When the Lord heard your complaining, he became very angry. So he solemnly swore, ‘Not one of you from this wicked generation will live to see the good land I swore to give your ancestors…”
(Deuteronomy 1:31-35)
There are many times in our lives when we have to exist between the already and the not yet — in the wilderness…The in-between. Here, God wants us to learn to worship him, not because our circumstances are what we want them to be, but because we are trusting that he has a purpose and a plan for the season we are in.
Worship is the antidote to grumbling and complaining. It is to behold God with the awe that he deserves, to acknowledge his holiness, that he is above all and over all. Worship is a by-product of faith, and worship also increases faith.
I like how John Ortberg emphasized our need for worship:
“I need to worship because without it I can forget that I have a big God beside me and live in fear. I need to worship because without it I can forget his calling and begin to live in a spirit of self-preoccupation. I need to worship because without it I lose a sense of wonder and gratitude and plod through life with blinders on. I need worship because my natural tendency is toward self-reliance and stubborn independence.
In this world, we will encounter trials and difficulties, some that seem insurmountable, that make us bitter and disappointed with God. However, to complain against God is a serious offense. It is different than being honest about our frustration and anger. It is to presume that we know better, that we are more important, that we are entitled to comfort and happiness on our own terms.
This kind of thinking and attitude made the older generation of Israelites forfeit the promise land. They missed out because they focused on what they didn’t have, instead of what they had — God’s presence, God’s promises.
I understand where the Israelites were coming from because I wrestled with the same grumbling heart. Worship served as the remedy. It elevated my perspective to behold who God is, to be thankful that he brought me this far, to give me the hope I needed to keep pressing on.
May you be encouraged to do the same…
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”—Psalm 43:5
Thank you for this post. I needed this. God bless you.
a timely reminder❤️
Thank you. This made me teary-eyed. Thank you for the timely message. God is good all the time.
THANK YOU… WOW…. IM sooo blessed
Thank you for always pointing me to Him.
Thank you for this. And these exactly how I feel right now , almost 2 weeks from now my 3rd child lost shes 1 yr old and 9 mos ,I’m asking God am I not a good mom to be a steward of my baby…
I miss her so much
Such a good read❤️God bless you more!
Thank you, Joy, for inspiring us. We need WORSHIP to acknowledge who God is in our lives. God bless you in all your endeavors. ☺
So blessed! Thank you for sharing this. God bless you more Joy.
was so blessed by your post. thank you Joy for this. 🙂
Thank you so much for this… No matter how long the holding pattern, God will always be a good God. Thank you for reminding me to stand in awe of Him, to look at how He has always taken good care of me. And even if not, He will always be good. God graciously reward you! Thanks again!
Thank you so much Joy!!!
I’m so happy you’re posting again, Tita Joy! God is good, life is short, so let’s make the most out of it! God bless you and your family! ♥️
Thank you for reminding me not to complain as God didn’t answer yet for my permanent residency and stable job and see the blessings God bestowed upon me.🙂
Prix compétitif pour valacyclovir Belgique
valacyclovir sans frais de consultation Achetez votre valacyclovir en ligne en toute sécurité en Suisse
Les effets secondaires potentiels de la valtrex Achetez valtrex légalement
en ligne
Offres exclusives sur la valtrex
valtrex sans ordonnance prix élevé France
valtrex abordable et de qualité valtrex en ligne sans
risque
Obtenez votre valacyclovir en ligne rapidement et facilement Trouvez
des informations sur les effets secondaires de la valtrex en ligne
valacyclovir en ligne : comment éviter les arnaques ?
Guide d’achat de valtrex en ligne : tout ce que
vous devez savoir sur les dosages
valtrex sans prescription : Est-ce possible ? Acheter valacyclovir de qualité en ligne
valacyclovir en vente au Maroc Acheter de la valacyclovir avec assurance et fiabilité
Achetez votre valacyclovir avec une consultation en ligne valacyclovir
en vente libre en ligne : ce qu’il faut savoir
valtrex de haute qualité en ligne France
valtrex : Points à considérer lors de l’achat en ligne
Achetez valacyclovir avec livraison discrète en ligne
valtrex authentique livrée à votre porte
Commander valacyclovir avec livraison rapide
valtrex en vente libre au canada
valacyclovir en ligne disponible 24/7 valacyclovir en ligne rapide et facile France
Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with
SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success.
If you know of any please share. Appreciate it!
марс в 12 доме у ребенка оценка имени, число имени значение бурлак фамилия национальность таро гадание на будущее три карты точное хадж во сне исламский сонник, кто-то гонится во сне исламский сонник
médicaments : guide d’achat pour les résidents français Polipharm Villa Luzuriaga Où acheter médicaments en ligne légalement et en toute
sécurité
achat médicaments en Espagne sur internet Bexal Aalsmeer Acheter médicaments en ligne : ce qu’il faut savoir sur les interactions médicamenteuses
compra de medicamentos en Perú en línea Kern Aarschot
aankoop van medicijnen in Martinique
гадание на будущее отношений с мужчиной расклад, расклад таро на будущее с
человеком схемы карты таро
значения чисел, число 6 в таро масса ядра таблица, удельная энергия связи формула
к чему снятся расписываться приснился умерший человек с четверга на пятницу
панорама улиц гугл, гугл карта
360 просмотр улиц молитва о безымянном пальце снится во сне предательство мужа
управитель в козероге яндекс гадать на картах таро
к чему сниться рвота кота молитва о
женихе себе сонник красная жидкость
гадание на мужчину будем ли мы вместе или нет как снять боль в стопе,
болят ступни больно ходить
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem together with your site
in web explorer, might test this? IE still is the market chief and a large
section of other folks will omit your excellent writing because of this problem.
indicazioni per la vendita di farmaci in Italia Axios Morges
medicijnen kopen in Spanje online
фотобумага а4 алматы, фотобумага для принтера хк арлан
новости, хк арлан состав председатель городского суда кокшетау,
судья жумабеков кокшетау туынды етістік қатары, етістік ереже
I was very pleased to uncover this site. I need to to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!!
I definitely savored every bit of it and I have you
bookmarked to see new stuff on your website.
médicaments en ligne sans prescription Bexal Jaén–Martos acheter du médicaments en Italie
подработка разнорабочим ночью подработка мерчендайзером спб вакансии работа на дому в беларуси на
телефоне подработка минск октябрьский район
такси кызылорда номер, жулдыз такси кызылорда регистрация активная гражданская позиция
примеры, гражданская позиция виды haileybury
astana vacancies, haileybury astana цена желчегонный чай сколько пить, желчегонный чай польза и вред
пікірталаста жиі қолданылатын тәсілдер, пікірталас мәдениетіндегі сөз қолданыстар қазақ тіліне ұқсас тілдер, қазақ
тілі қандай тіл мотокуртка
алматы, мотоэкипировка алматы работа в технодоме отзывы, сулпак отзывы