“The problem with God isn’t that He has been tried and found wanting, it is that He has been wanting to be tried. People who could find all of the peace, solace and strength they could ever need and more hit bottom because they refuse to ask God for the help He willingly and lovingly offers.” – Jerry Godsey, Third Option Men
Over the years God has grown me through various trials. It’s no secret that trials aren’t fun, even when you have the assurance that with God’s leading you will come out the other side. It has taken a while to sink in, but I am finally learning that God should always be the first one to hear the voice of my struggle and not my final option.
When I first read Mr. Godsey’s comment, I told myself that I had never really hit the bottom. But now, that’s just silly, right? The truth is that I can’t count the number of times my “strength” has told me I can solve the problem alone, only to find myself deep in a pit and regretting that I waited so long to cry out to God.
I learned this lesson well several years ago, when I found myself in a quandary about a situation in our home. I spent several sleepless nights, tossing and turning as I tried to decide how to handle the situation. The issue consumed my thoughts each day as I attempted to complete my work. After several days of this restlessness, and after I had exhausted every human option and myself as well, I cried out to God. I remember the day well. I was heading home after work with this heavy weight on my heart and mind. In a moment of desperation I shouted, “I could really use some help here, God. I don’t know how to deal with this.” As I blasted this prayer to God, I was ashamed as I realized that the most important thing I should have done was actually the final thing I did.
God had already answered my prayer, of course. I was at work the next day when a dear friend called. This precious woman lives in another city, several hours away. Her first words to me were, “Hey, what’s going on? God woke me up three times last night with you on my mind.” After looking heavenward with a silent, “Thank You, Father,” I poured out my heart to her. She listened carefully, asked pertinent questions, and shared her wisdom. Her advice and encouragement moved me forward to the right decision. There you go!
We struggle with so much of life. We hang on to the things that have hurt us, without trusting God to be our Healer. Our hearts become bitter. These actions harm our souls.
Why do we Christians forget to ask God first? After all that we have gone through in our lives, what part of us still thinks “we’ve got this”? Goodness knows, the above instance was just one of more than I can count when I’ve attempted to solve my own problems.
Read again what Mr. Godsey says: “The problem with God isn’t that He has been tried and found wanting, it is that He has been wanting to be tried. People who could find all of the peace, solace and strength they could ever need and more hit bottom because they refuse to ask God for the help He willingly and lovingly offers.”
Thankfully, we serve a God who doesn’t get tired of us and cross His arms against us as we attempt to help ourselves. He’s the Father standing at the door, watching and waiting. A simple, heartfelt, “Rescue me” will turn us back to our Comforter, whose arms are open wide as we run to Him. What peace to know we don’t have to struggle alone.