Have you ever felt Psalm 22:2, I mean really felt it? When the psalmist said, “O my God, I cry by day, but You do not
answer; And by night, but I have no rest”.
We’ve heard testimonies from friends, co-workers, business associates,
and pastors on how God answered their prayers, cancelled their debts, healed
their relatives, and granted them their dream jobs, lined up all connections to
start their businesses. And you sit in
wonder, amazed at what the Lord is doing, ecstatic over a friend’s testimony,
talking faith to build yourself up, reminiscing over your past victories
(frankly, victories from too many years ago) and start to wonder…..
Lord, Lord where art thou? Not in
the sense of location…..we can all agree that he sits on the throne. But where were you when I labored in prayer
over a decision? When I cried out for
healing? When I started the business you
told me to start, but the profits didn’t manifest? When the prophet told me, I’d be rich and
married by this time next year? Where
were you? Are you deferring dreams? Are you teaching me something? Is the devil harassing me? What is it, Lord? Why does manifestation take sooooo long? Perhaps,
you’ve never been here. Perhaps you have and just too embarrassed to tell
anyone lest your faith gets judged.
Some years ago, as I was facing a major decision, I began to wonder is He
ever going to answer. I had been
praying, confessing, believing, fasting (so you know it was serious…I don’t
give up food for just anything) for months.
One day I was so frustrated with God that I decided I was done…done
praying about it, done confessing, done.
In my final discussion with God about this matter, I shared with Him, that
I was done. Jesus and I are friends, God
is my father…we’re family so I don’t have to talk to them in a fake voice…. (unless
you have relationship with the Father and the Son, your conversations probably
won’t sound like mine, but that’s ok J). Anyways, when I finished lamenting, I sat
back and waited for my spirit to be heavy with the rebuke that I believed would
come from my Father. But this is what
God spoke to my heart: Daughter, WHATEVER
you decide I’ll back. Wow, what a statement and what a relief. Even as I write this, and remember that day,
I’m reminded that GOD TRUSTS ME. He
knows me and still trusts me. Even when
I’m not convinced, He is fully persuaded that greater is He that is in me than
he that is in the world (I John 4:4). He
is convinced that my love for Him will compel me to do right. He believes that
when life and death are put before me, I would pick life. God loves us, we know that with absolute
certainty. God trusts us, now let that
sink in. So much so, that not only did
He die for us but gave dominion to us, dominion over all the works of His
hand. God. Trusts. You! I don’t always get what I want, but I always
trust Him. Besides, He’s given me
authority over His works, the least I can do is give Him authority over mine. The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth He has
given to man. (Psalms 115:16). God
believes in mankind. God believes in
you. Although, I continue to submit
almost everything to God in prayer, when He doesn’t answer, I don’t panic. I’m fully persuaded that He’s got me, I’ve
got Him and we’ve got this. And that’s
just the way it is.
LaTasha Battle