God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) But that does not mean He moves in the same way yesterday, today and forever. Yet that has not stopped me from wishing He did.
In my journey as a follower of Jesus, I have found myself trying to figure how God works. I have carefully watched for the patterns in my own life.
When I fast for 3 days and God does Y. Pray in tongues for an hour and God does X. Say I surrender and God does B.
Sometimes it does play out like that. But other times, it doesn’t, and that is something I’m beginning to learn and be okay with because God doesn’t move how we want Him to.
God Moves Differently In Different Situations
Looking to the Bible we see that in one case Jesus simply cast out a demon and someone was healed. (Matthew 17:18) In another situation, He anointed a man’s eyes with saliva and sent him to wash in a pool. (John 9:6-7)
For you, maybe today you will pray in tongues and God gives you immediate revelation. Tomorrow you pray and the revelation only comes after several months.
This shows us that God doesn’t move in the same way or at least in the way that we sometimes would like Him to.
It can be frustrating and confusing, especially for those of us who want a 1+1=2 formula of how to live the Christian life. But the truth is that there is no such formula. Or not one in the way that we would think.
Faith Is The Only Formula
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
The only true “formula” to living the Christian life is faith. The Scriptures tell us that as Christians we walk by faith and we can only please God with our faith. (Hebrews 11:6, 2 Corinthians 5:7)
So when it comes to prayer and living, we are supposed to do it all by faith. Not trusting in what we did before or a certain method to get God to move.
God will move as He wills and when He wills. Our part is to trust that He will and believe that His timing and method is best.
Let God Lead
Maybe you’ve been feeling frustrated or a little angry because things are not going as you thought they would. You have done what you usually do and its not working like it used to.
Just take a step back and remember that you are not in control, God is. But only if you let Him be.
So instead of trying to manipulate the situation or force His hand, let God lead. Allow Him to say when and how your situation will play out.
Don’t trust in methods but trust in God, and have faith that He will come through and move in your situation.
