"But God, I..."

By Liz Giertz

“But, I didn’t hear you.”

“I’m too tired.”

“But first I need to…”

“I don’t know how.”

“But whyyyy??”

My kids consistently fall back on these excuses when I have told them to do something they are less than thrilled about doing. I probably used the same ones as a child. 

If I’m honest, not much has changed in nearly 40 years. 

My Mom doesn’t assign me many chores these days, but God does, and all too often my responses mirror those my boys give me. I’ve even added a few new ones.

“But she is so much better at that than I am.”

“We don’t have the money!”

“What if I’m no good?”

“I don’t have that kind of time.”

Can you relate?  Have you given God similar answers?

“But, God I….”

I’ve learned when I feel most like I can’t accomplish what God is nudging me toward, those are the times when God wants me to fully rely on Him. 

When my inadequacies are most staggering, God’s power and provision will be most evident.

God calls me to deny my selfish flesh and all its fears and commit myself implicitly to Him.

Independence is often my goal when I ask my boys to accomplish a task. I will be there for them if they need help, but I don’t want to be tying their shoes or brushing their teeth when they are teenagers. God, on the other hand, beckons us to increased dependence on His promise.

Jesus knew what it was like to be asked by His Father to accomplish a task about which he harbored reservations.

After the passover meal, Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to stand watch as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was here that Jesus prayed to His Father three times, “If this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done”  (Matthew 26:36-46, NKJV).  The study notes in my Bible explain that it was not His suffering and death that caused Him this anguish, but rather the knowledge that He would, for a time, be separated from His Father. Even facing the cup of God’s wrath as punishment for our sins, Jesus prayed, “Your will be done.” 

And so it was.

Jesus was arrested, beaten, crucified and died as the final sacrifice for a broken, sinful world and for my own sins. Jesus is Emmanuel, God With Us, and because he was forsaken for our transgressions, we live with the confidence that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:37-39 NKJV).

This blessed assurance that He is with me into eternity emboldens me to go where He calls. 

Knowing that He is already there beckoning me gives me courage to wander where He wills.

When I fear failure, the image of him gently catching me in His loving arms brings me peace. 

Remembering that all I have comes from Him inspires me to give more freely of my time, talents and treasure. His great love for me poured out on the cross conquers every single one of my excuses.

If God calls us to something, we can be certain that He will carry us through it.

The power of God With Us turns our “But, God…” into “Your will be done!” 


Word of the Day
“Yet, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height more depth, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us froth love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 37-39 NKJV)


Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that Your very own Son was forsaken so that I would not have to endure Your wrath. Forgive me for the times I fail to rely on your power and provision. Remind me always that You are with me no matter what may come. When You call on me to accomplish something for Your glory, help me by Your Holy Spirit to answer, “Your will be done!”  Amen.


Follow Liz Giertz at her personal blog at www.creativeinspirationsatmymessydesk.com

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