Who Moved?
There is a better question to ask when we, Christians – earth dwellers, cry out in lament or frustration about God’s apparent lack of attention on us. Too often we’re stuck yelling “Why Me?” or “Why God, Why?”
What is unspoken in those questions is the concept that God is different NOW because of our circumstances. We think that because something has gone awry that God has somehow decided to remove His blessing from our lives and we’re stuck in the pit of lonely despair.
Church, that is dangerously close to sin. Jesus Himself declares the inevitable nature of suffering in the life of a Christian (Matt 5: 10 – 12). If we are living right, bad things are going to happen and we will be in the crosshairs of a world gone rotten.
Here’s our better question to ask when tempted to accuse God of withholding blessing: “Who moved?”
On the surface that doesn’t seem to answer anything. But lets look deeper: Does God change? Has God changed?
Hebrews 13:5b; 8 – “…For God has said, ” I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”… “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” NLT (emphasis added)
The ONLY one who can use words like “never” and “forever” is God. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Period. End of Story. Furthermore, He HAS used those words many times to try and assure us that He is who He says He is.
And so – Who Moved?
Us. We move. We run. We shift. We change.
We cannot find ourselves asking God to return to our comfort zone, our understanding of blessing, our understanding of good and bad. We MUST find ourselves moving into God’s comfort zone, God’s understanding, His definition of good and bad. Then no longer will we be able to ask why, we will instead cry out to be made new again.
Psalm 51 is a shining example of understanding of man’s character in light of God’s. I encourage you to read it fully, knowing David’s heart of sorrow and suffering and comprehension of his own sinfulness.
Have mercy on me O God…
Against you and you alone have I sinned…
You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgement against me is just…
Oh, give me back my joy again…
Create in me a clean heart…
Restore to me the joy of your salvation…
God will never move away from us. We can no longer allow our circumstances to move us away from Him.