When You Beg God To Change Your Circumstances and He Doesn’t, Remember This
If we could only remember who’s in charge … and trust.
How often we besiege God about something we desperately want! We beg Him to change our circumstances. We implore Him to bring something to fruition.
Sometimes, however, God says no … or seemingly nothing at all.
In Desperation … and Foolishness
Still, we keep at it. Like Balak in the book of Numbers, we hope addressing the situation from a different vantage point will help our cause.
In Numbers 22-24, Balak, the king of Moab, implored Balaam, a prophet of God, to curse the Israelites. Balaam, however, could only bless them as God instructed Him.
Three times Balak took Balaam to different sites, hoping the change of scenery would change the prophet’s (or God’s) mind.
“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me, 17 for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!’” (Numbers 22:16-17)
“Please come with me to another place where you can see them. You will only see the outskirts of their camp; you won’t see all of them. From there, put a curse on them for me.” (23:13)
“Please come. I will take you to another place. Maybe it will be agreeable to God that you can put a curse on them for me there.” (23:27)
Balak seemed so … desperate and foolish! But don’t we do the same thing?
“Look at it this way, Lord” or
“Don’t You see how happy it will make me, Lord?” or even,
“I know it will draw many more souls to You if You just bless what I want to do!”
Begging God to Change Your Circumstances
I‘m not saying we shouldn’t be persistent in prayer. I’m not saying we shouldn’t ask God more than once.
But sometimes we resort to what amounts to manipulation. We compromise with God. We twist and turn our request, trying to present our desire to the Lord in a way that He will bless.
Basically, we try to change His mind.
Yet God sees all. He knows what’s best for us and for His kingdom.
We may think our idea is best, but if God withholds His blessing from it, it’s because He has a better plan.
We may think our idea is best, but if God withholds His blessing from it, it's because He has a better plan. Share on X
Still, we beg for a change in our circumstances …
“Please, Lord, make it a different disease!”
“Lord, someone else is far better equipped to handle this than I am.”
“This will prevent me from sharing the Gospel, Lord, hindering me from glorifying You, preventing me from taking Your Good News to the ends of the earth, because here I am stuck!”
Do we really think God doesn’t know what He’s doing? Do we really think we know better?
Welcome God’s Assignments
What if we would live our life in such a way that we welcome everything that comes our way as a step in God’s plan … as an assignment for us from Him?
What if we would welcome everything that comes our way as a step in God's plan ... an assignment. #trustGod Share on X
That invitation you’d rather turn down? Perhaps God wants you to encourage someone there or share the Gospel with them.
Raising that child who is so different from others? Maybe there are or will be others who need to see God’s faithfulness in the midst of the unexpected or who need to be exposed to the blessings of the “least.” Or maybe you do.
Your assignment may be one meant to humble you or another—or maybe to introduce you or another to a greater joy than you could have ever imagined. The circumstances you find yourself in will serve a greater purpose in the hands of our great God.
The circumstances you find yourself in will serve a greater purpose in the hands of our great God. Share on X
God’s Hand Is In It All
Whatever it is, whatever unwanted thing you face, whether big or small, remember God’s hand is in it. God’s hand is in it all!
Whether He handed it to you or will redeem it in the end, you can trust that it will have a far better outcome than anything you can contrive. And no matter how difficult your circumstances, you can count on God’s sufficient grace to see you through!
Whatever unwanted circumstances you face, whether big or small, remember, God's hand's in it.God's hand is in it all! Share on X
“But who are you, a mere man, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” 21 Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? 22 And what if God, desiring to display His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath ready for destruction? 23 And what if He did this to make known the riches of His glory on objects of mercy that He prepared beforehand for glory— 24 on us, the ones He also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?” (Romans 9:20-24)
Reflections: What difficult circumstances do you find yourself in? Are you frustrated because God seems to be saying no or ignoring your prayers? Have you considered that this may be His best yes for you right now, that He has a plan in and through it? Remember, He’s for you!
Joining once again with my friend, Suzie Eller, for #livefreeThursday! Click here to read more wonderful encouragement.
By His Grace,
Julie
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Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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Great post, Julie. Such truth and this is powerful, “We may think our idea is best, but if God withholds His blessing, it’s because He has a better plan.” Following the example of Jesus, I pray for God’s kingdom to come because my kingdom often crumbles. Blessings! Visiting from #livingfree link up.
You can’t go wrong with that prayer, Karen! Thanks for the comment.
Julie, I have learned to say, “It’s all in God’s hands.” IT has helped me as I waited for the proofing of my book to be brought to a point of present-ability. I also had to rely on that phrase when I waited for a shipment of those books. I find myself saying it more and more as the days go by.
It’s a great reminder for us, Cecelia! I struggle with waiting, so I need that reminder.
we don’t have to beg God for anything!!!
All His promises are yes and Amen 2 Corinthians 1:20
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
I understand what you are saying, Dara, and yes, all of God’s promises are yes and Amen. Unfortunately, we often want something contrary to God’s will or not actually promised, even though we might think it is. Thankfully, if He does answer no to our petition, we can trust He has something better in mind. God bless you.