Tuesday, February 21, 2012

God Doesn't Always Deliver

In the past year
deliverance
was always on my heart and mind.

Thousands of Christians were praying for the Innocent Man.
I received a small mountain of encouragement,
verses sent in emails, texts, Facebook and  recited in person,
repeating promises of
deliverance.


This YouTube video by Selah blasted from my computer many times.

We all believed God was going to
deliver
in a mighty way.

When the jury foreman said the word guilty,
we were stunned.
Older believers, whose faith that could move mountains,
were speechless before a holy and mighty God.

We were humbled to realize there was a plan we could not fathom.
Deliverance
was not the plan for January 20, 2012.

 
I read Hebrews 11 last week in my morning devotions.
I was stunned again.
How had I missed this message for almost 30 years?


13 These all died in faith,
not having received the promises,
but having seen them afar off were assured of them,
embraced them and confessed that
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  


Somehow, I always thought of Hebrews 11 as a chapter of victory,
recording great deliverances and miracles.
I guess I didn't read too clearly.

My heart is beating a different rhythm these days,
 trying to beat in tune with the heart of a God,
whose ways are not my ways and thoughts are not my thoughts.

Clearly, in Hebrews, not all of His  people were delivered on earth.
Instead, He reminds us we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth.

In other words,
we don't belong here.
We belong with Him.


Deliverance
might not come when we think it should,
and sometimes not until we pass from this world.

Life on earth is hard for believers.
The Lord doesn't keep that a secret from His people.

Hebrews 11:35
Women received their dead raised to life again:
and others were tortured,
not accepting deliverance;
that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings,
yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two,
were tempted, were slain with the sword.
They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins,
 being destitute, afflicted, tormented
38 of whom the world was not worthy.
They wandered in deserts and mountains,
in dens and caves of the earth.


Until eternal deliverance comes,
and we get to be with Him,
we know how to act, thanks to Hebrews 11.
v. 5 Enoch pleased God
v. 7 Noah moved with godly fear
v. 8 Abraham obeyed
v. 11 Sarah received strength
v. 27 Moses forsook Egypt (this world!)


If you've trusted Christ as your Savior
 and your name is written in His book of life,
write your name in another book.

Literally, I mean.
Open to Hebrews 11 and pencil in your name and your trial.
Then think how you want your life remembered by others.
Will your faith be recorded,
even though you lived a life of suffering?
Can you walk by faith until you receive eternal
deliverance?


Because God's plan for our trials isn't always
deliverance
on earth.

7 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you wrote this post. Our family understands this so well now. You can have all the faith in the world that God is going to deliver us from a situation, but it may not happen on this earth. It can be shattering and bring about a crisis of faith. But if we continue to move forward in our belief despite the pain of broken hearts and uncertainty, we will move to a place of blessing and spiritual maturity. As usual, you hit the nail on the head, Momma Mindy! We can claim God's promises, and we should, but we have to remember He is the ultimate authority and He is working behind the scenes for His glory.

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  2. So true. Sometimes we are not delivered from the situation because he might be bringing life to the less spiritually mature, and death to the more spiritually mature. He kills the things that are not of God in us. His job is to bring those things such as bitterness, hatred, unforgiveness to the surface so he can deliver us from them and use them for his glory.

    Love you!

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  3. Lots to pray for in this blog. For you all. For the Innocent Man & all involved there. For my heart to take the challenge you spoke of... write my name in Hebrews. Thank you, Mindy.

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  4. i am sorry. God help you and your friend walk through this. May he know His love and comfort in this place.

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  5. Thanks, Aunt Mindy! This hit close to home in my own heart!

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  6. Stopping by to enjoy your wisdom once again. You're on my prayer list and I pray for you and your family each morning.

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