The scientist in me likes solid data with repeatable outcomes. That’s how you know if an experiment is sound—the results can be replicated when the same procedure is followed. You know who doesn’t always follow good scientific protocol? The Father of science Himself. The One who the Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:8 “…is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
In the book of Daniel, the three friends told King Nebuchadnezzar “you can throw us in that fire if you want to (Stephanie paraphrase), but the God we serve is able to save us…but even if he does not, …we will not serve your gods… (3:17) Well of course, we know they weren’t hurt at all in the fire. God saved them.
I get hung up right there. I say with my mouth, “God, I trust you, even if you don’t move this mountain for me.” But in my heart, when He doesn’t move the mountain, I think, “But you could have. You did it for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Why would you let your children suffer when you COULD have made everything okay?”
Sometimes God clears obstacles from our paths and lets us walk on dry ground through the Red Sea like the Israelites did, and other times, he doesn’t. Instead, He holds onto us when we are slogging upstream against icy currents, struggling to keep breath in our lungs. He may only answer our cries for Him to change our circumstances with the same simple message He gave Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Cor 12:9
Sometimes He gives us our hearts’ delights, just because He’s a good Dad and likes to see us enjoy gifts from Him. Other times, we pray for very good things with the best of intentions, and He says, “My ways are higher than your ways. Wait and see.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances,” even when we are in that cold current wishing for dry ground beneath us.
A few years ago, I got shingles and suffered a debilitating few weeks where I was unable to move or even breathe without extreme pain. Zero stars. I do not recommend. God could’ve let me have a milder form of shingles that didn’t affect my lungs. In fact, He could’ve prevented me from getting sick in the first place. But He didn’t leave my side throughout.
But during that illness, God told me, “Come sit with me, child, and just be still.” We sat together, God and I, and He held me while I grieved the loss of a dear friend and that of a close relative. He held me while I counted my blessings, which was one of the only things I could do without pain. He even held me while I railed about how He could’ve kept me from getting shingles in the first place, and why did He even let painful illnesses exist?
And in those interminable days of sitting together, He allowed me to finish the first draft of a novel, which had been a long-time dream of mine. I needed the stillness without distractions to get it done. (Would’ve preferred not to suffer, but then, I probably wouldn’t have given God the time and attention I should’ve in that season)
If you find yourself wrestling with the “even ifs” where God could’ve swung things in your favor, but didn’t, don’t give up. He hasn’t let go of you, and you aren’t swimming upstream without a lifeline. God may not always follow repeatable rules and fix the outcomes like He has before, but He is faithful and good and trustworthy, no matter how many times the procedure changes.