Have you ever been in a place in your faith when you’ve asked God, “why isn’t this or that happening for me?” (Would a better question be, “have you ever not been in that place?) In our fast-paced, success-oriented society, we’re often encouraged to “create the life we want” and “make it happen” and “hustle.” But if something’s not happening for us, no matter how hard we try, we’ve got to ask ourselves a few simple questions.
1) Is the “Hustle” mentality biblical?
This, like so many things, is a balance. Of course, God wants us to be diligent and faithful in the work He’s given us to do. We see in the Word that God created humans to work, and He also set a precedent of rest. We see Jesus set a precedent of complete trust in the Father, quiet time set apart for prayer, and making Sabbath and rest (when needed) a priority. If you find yourself believing you have to work yourself into the ground to make ends meet, you might be trusting your own ability more than God.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3.23-24 NIV
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Genesis 2.15 NIV
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
Genesis 2.2 NIV
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
Mark 6.31-32 NIV
2) What are the ways I’m relying on myself more than God?
It’s hard to recognize and admit a lack of faith, but if we pay very close attention to our thoughts, we can root them out and replace them. Picture this: your car just broke down and you have $22.13 in the bank. Your first thought might be a panicked, “where am I going to get the money to fix this?!” That’s human nature. But right then, stop yourself from continuing down that thought pattern, and pray. Ask God to help you and show you what He wants you to do in this situation. When we humble ourselves and put our trust in the promise that God will lead us and provide for us, our faith begins to grow. Sometimes God provides miraculously. Sometimes, He gives you the opportunity to work to make extra money. Either way, don’t you want to see what He has planned?
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3) Why God’s Timing is Perfect
We know from the Word that God gives good gifts and has good plans for His children. He also wants us to have a relationship with Him, to grow and produce fruit, so many times when we think it’s the right time for those blessings and when God knows is the right time for those blessings don’t line up.
Can You Relate?
Can you identify a time in your life when you wanted something in particular, but when you look back you realize you weren’t ready for it? Can you see in retrospect how God’s timing was better than your plan? If you haven’t experienced that yet, I believe you found this blog for a purpose. God’s timing is perfect because He’s outside of time, and can see our story from beginning to end. Not getting exactly what you ask for, exactly when you want it, is an act of love from God. Even if His answer is “no” and that prayer is not going to be answered the way you want, it’s because God knows what is best for you and what will grow or benefit His kingdom.
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7.11 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29.11 NIV
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts…”
Isaiah 55.8-9 NIV
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