My One-on-One with God

Dear friends, readers, subscribers, fans, etc – this week I would like to do something different. I want to share a little of how my conversations with God go, especially when things are thick! Here we go…

So… it has been three weeks of trusting God to do something in a certain area. Three weeks ago, it was urgent. I guess it was not as urgent for him! Anyway…

The Complaint

‘Lord, why is this taking so long? I have been waiting, trusting in your promises and believing that you are able to do more than I can imagine.’ I cannot count how many times I have made this prayer, even listing all the times I have been faithful to him when there was an opportunity to be faithless!

Faithless, you say? Oh, yes! These opportunities present themselves daily. Just because I am a Christian does not mean that I don’t get tempted!

Psalm 37:4 comes to mind at this point…

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” (NLT)

Okay, Lord, I will try my best to delight in you like I have always done, and not to focus on the desires you may or may not fulfill.

The Cry

Psalm 73: 2-4 “But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.” (NLT)

Have you ever cried out to the Lord with words like those in Psalm 73? I know I have, many times, especially when I feel like I am being punished for my faith! It is so easy to look around you and see that everyone has a nice car, nice job, all the money they need, a great lifestyle, etc, and look with disappointment at your apparent lack.

I use the word ‘apparent’ because, in truth, you are more blessed than all those around you who do not know Christ. Every time I turn to God with my cries, he reminds me that not only do I have the joy of having a personal relationship with him, but I also have the comfort of knowing that he cares for me. He also reminds me that what I am going through is part of life in this temporal world and that I need to stay focused on what lies ahead in eternity.

So… what happened to the people who appeared to be prospering in Psalm 73?

Psalm 73:17-20 “Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.” (NLT)

Every time I read these words, I feel very guilty! Thankfully, God in his mercy understands my cries more than I do!

The Point of Surrender

After the complaints and the cries comes the most difficult part of all – the point of surrender. At this point, I usually lift my hands to the Lord and say, ‘Even though I don’t understand what you are doing, I will trust you. Let your will be done.’

Do you ever wonder how Job got through that terrible trial that God allowed into his life? He lost everything – all he had left was a body full of sores and a scornful wife!

Job 1:21 ‘He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”’(NLT)

Even after seeing all that he had worked for over the years disappear in a matter of minutes, Job praised the Lord. How could he possibly do this? Simple – he knew who God was and was therefore content to receive whatever God placed in his hands.

I find it hard to surrender. It’s not easy letting God handle everything especially when you have a possible solution up your sleeve, is it? Though surrendering to God may not be easy, it is the best action plan when nothing else is working.

Ideally, we should live lives that are constantly surrendered to God, but being the intelligent humans we are, surrender is usually the last thing on our minds! From experience, however, I can confidently say that every time I surrender to the Lord, I have the most unbelievable sense of peace and joy!

The Peaceful Place

After I surrender to the Lord, I have peace. This peace is not as a result of my prayers being answered, or my desires being met; rather, it comes from knowing that God is in control!

Interestingly, when I am in a peaceful place, I am more inclined to hear what God is saying. It is usually at this point where I realize that God was working behind the scenes all along, doing what he knows was best for me! I also get an opportunity to heal from the pain that accompanied the cries and complaints as I experience the comfort of his presence. My fellowship with God then goes through a period of renewal and rejuvenation, as I cease to focus on my issues and instead focus on him.

What a beautiful place to be – the place of peace!

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT)

Hi, everyone! Thanks for reading how my lengthy and painful conversations with God usually go. Would you like to share how your conversations with God go during the hard times? Please share in the comments section below, and don’t forget to share this article with someone who really needs to read it. Have a great week!