Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19
Wait a second, doesn’t the church around the corner say something different? Well, it probably does. But the Bible is the final authority on what God says. If you’re at a church that teaches you something other than what the Bible teaches maybe it’s time for you to find a new church.
That may sound extreme, but this is a big departure from truth. Shopping for a new church is uncomfortable. It can take months of trying out different places. When you finally find the right one, plug in and serve!
If a church teaches a prosperity gospel, then it’s time to flee. If the message is: if you are following God you won’t get any troubles because God will protect you. What happens when trouble comes? Does God really teach we don’t have any troubles?
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
James 1:2
Joy through troubles would be a more accurate description of what the Bible teaches.
2I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
Psalm 142:2
King David had troubles; perhaps that’s why we like his saying so much. We can relate to him!
When we have troubles, we turn to God. When everything is perfect in our family, finances, and health we live for pleasure and to please ourselves. It’s a sad truth. It seems like some of us have to get the prodigal son pigpen before we turn around and look to heaven.
Prosperity isn’t a Christian Right. We can’t tell God what to do we can only ask. That’s the point of him being God. He is God. A loving father will grant requests but not always. If a child asked his father “can I have ten candy bars?” the child’s father is likely to say no because he can’t handle it he’ll get sick and throw up. Our father knows what we can handle.
I’m guessing God likes unselfish prayers. As a parent, which would you rather hear?
- Can you give me a piece of cake?
- Can we make a cake and take it to my sad friend?
I want to hear 2! I am guessing you do too!
Know that if God doesn’t answer your prayer right away or even at all He still loves you intensely. He will deliver you in His time. Trust His guidance and let Him steer your life.
Following Jesus 