Ever wonder if God is even "up there" listening to your prayers or whether or not He really cares about your life, your struggles and the situations you find yourself in? I know I have. Even the disciples wondered if Jesus cared about them when they were caught in a furious squall on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was asleep on the boat and his disciples woke Him and said, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Mark 4:38
It's natural, when going through tough times, to feel like nobody cares about you. Our tendency is to think we are the only ones in turmoil and that it is never going to end. So we look up to heaven, trying to see a God who is invisible or hear from the One who does not speak to us audibly and we wonder, and wonder, and wonder. We want to feel the presence of God, but He does not use physical hands to touch or move us. There has to be a way to get God's attention, but how?
Some people find it is just easier to give up looking, listening and waiting and go about finding help and comfort by some other means. They justify their lack of faith in the unseen God by saying He does not care about humanity. That God is just an old, feeble bystander regarding the plight of "His" people. We, O.K., men, tend to give up on things they do not feel they are good at. The male species seems to have this need to feel sufficient, and when we don't, what we are not good at is deemed as "stupid". Let's face it, we are not very good at connecting with God - He is too invisible.
There were people in the Bible who found a way to find God. Somehow Abraham got God's attention, as did Moses, David, Elijah, and Elisha from the Old Testament. And there were many who turned the head of Jesus, even amazing Him. People like the lady with the blood issues, the woman with a sick child, and the widow at Nain and even a Roman Centurion (not Octavian). He wanted Jesus to heal his servant but told Jesus, "Just say the word and my servant will be healed". Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." (Matthew 8:8-10)
If we want God's attention, there are ways that work and definitely ways that don't. We can't "Turn God's Head" with whining, complaining, demanding, bargaining, throwing a tantrum, shaking our fist in anger, or challenging his authority. What does work is humility, gratitude, boldness, and confidence in His power and love. There is another thing that gets God's attention - prayer. Paul says in Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Want to know if God is "up there"? Start praying. With the proper motive and right attitude you will find God is not only "up there", but within you and a part of your situations. God's Got This, so talk to Him about it.
Comments