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Wednesday, July 01, 2009What if God does not provide?
Have you ever been in a situation where you keep on praying for something but God never seem to listen to your prayer? What would you feel if you woke up one morning only to realize that you no longer have friends, you no longer have a job or a business and your flat broke?
Would you blame God for not answering your prayer?
When God does not provide for our needs, does it mean that he had abandoned us?
First of all, we need to understand that God gives us blessings and not curses.
Let me share you my personal experience.
Okay, I know this will be boring since I will be talking about my life experience. I promise to keep it short – 15 pages only (just kidding). I’m sure you don’t want to turn down a friend who recommended you to read my blogs who is probably my relative, so, here it goes …
In 1996, I use to be a part of a group who runs a premier nightclub operation located along the world famous Manila Bay sunset strip. The place was a haven to very rich people and tourists. Our club slogan was “hall of the gods and the goddesses.” I was one of the gods.
I will not disclose the details on how we run the business – it’s censored. 18 months later, due to mismanagement and more, we have to shut down the operation.
During those 18 months, although I knew my life was going towards the wrong direction - my troubled relationship with my wife; being acquainted with the wrong people and wrong business, I did not know when to stop - correction please – I did not want to stop doing the wrong things!
After everything has been taken away, I could not understand why all my hard work and efforts ended up nowhere. I could not accept the fact that I have failed. As far as I knew, I did everything I can to be successful in life and to make things work. We were running a legitimate establishment, we employ people, and we provide entertainment – what’s wrong with that?
I blamed everyone including God as if He had something to do with my failure - “God, its unfair! Why did you allow this to happen to me? Why did you abandon me? You said that you are with me all the way! Where is the Great Provider?”
God took away the things that are not for me. I lost everything because I was not functioning based on my intended purpose in life – to be His good steward. I was my own god.
I had “temporary” financial abundance and plenty of artificial friends. There were times where I would have lots of money before the night begins and I would boast my “big shot” image then end up broke in the morning (yes, I did that and more). I did not have the discipline to handle money. A discipline that was impossible to have because I was engaging in a business that is morally against my beliefs. I became broke because I was selfish, irresponsible and financially illiterate.
I have learned my lessons in life the hard way. I am just so fortunate to be blessed to have a family who stood behind me all the way. Through them, I learned to pause and reflect and doing the things that I never thought I would be doing – to call on to God for help.
Today, when my wife and I want to do something or decide on something, especially if it is a major decision, we would pause, pray and reflect. We would write down our dreams and plans then we pray for discernment before we put them into action.
In our spiritual journey, we have used the following questions to help us discern if our dream is aligned to God’s plans for us. If we feel that we are struggling on something while implementing our plans, we stop and reflect then we go back to reflect on these questions again. If our answer to any one of the four questions is “No,” we stop and redo our plans.
These are the questions that we ask ourselves:
First question, am I asking based on His will? “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew (6:10)
In my case, running a nightclub is definitely not His will.
From then on, any business I choose, it has to be in accordance primarily with the word of God through the scriptures, my faith, moral beliefs, values and expectations.
I made sure that I do not use my time and money on the things that do not correspond to my expectations. I expect to put my money towards a system that is in line with my beliefs – “Your will be done.”
There are three questions to answer to know if “Your will be done” is followed before you move to the next question:
- Will this glorify God or will this glorify you?
- Will this give more praises to God or you just want people to praise you?
- Will this give me more time to serve God or will this give you more time to serve you? (By the way, serving God is not limited to serving your church alone. Don't limit yourself in serving God in a single place or a single area in your life. A good place to start is within your family.)
If your answer is "no" to any one of these questions, don’t bother yourself moving on to the next question. But if all your answers are "yes", then...
Second, do I maintain a good relationship with God? “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish for, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7).
If your running a business that involves prostitution, you definitely do not have a good relationship with God.
I’m not saying that prostitutes are damned to go to hell. Of course not! I can name several prostitutes who are heroes in the bible. What I’m saying is that I will not be investing anymore in the type of business that runs prostitution. I’ve been in that business before and that experience is a lesson that I can never forget for the rest of my life.
Having a good relationship is with God essential to make sure that whatever you wish, it will be done for you.
If you have a good relationship with the Lord, then...
Third, am I using the authority given to me when I'm saying my prayers? “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do.” (John 14:13).
Many of us underestimate the power of using this authority – “In Jesus name.” I have heard several Christians use this phrase as an expression. Remember, do not use God’s name in vain.
Let me share you an example on how powerful it is to use one’s name.
My “kumpare” (godfather of my son) works for a recruitment agency for shipping companies back in the Philippines. If you know someone who works in a cruise ship owned by “Princess Cruises”, they probably know my friend.
Anyway, whenever someone comes to me for help to back him or her up to my friend, I would write on a sheet of paper (there was even a time when I wrote a note on a cigarette box) and say “kumpare, please help so and so on his application” and I would sign at the bottom and he would bring that note to him.
Here’s the thing, when that person goes to meet my friend, he would skip a big line up of applicants and he would be entertained directly and immediately by my friend as if he was holding a VIP pass.
He was entertained immediately not because he had good credentials or he was good looking or he was somebody else. He received immediate attention because he used my name when he went to my friend.
We have to remember, when we ask something in prayer and say “In Jesus Name”, we are actually using our VIP pass to be entertained immediately by God the Father.
Now, you know that your plans are based on His will for you and because you have a good relationship with the Lord, you have the liberty to use His name in your prayers, then...
Fourth, did I have the faith to believe that I am going to receive what I prayed for? “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” (Mark 11:24)
When you pray, don’t doubt but rather expect.
I have questioned this verse from the scriptures when I was new in our community. I asked my fellow brothers and sisters – isn’t it crazy that we would act like we already have something but we don’t? Wouldn’t it give you more frustration if you acted like you had something but in the end, it will never be yours?
Here is a tip, to avoid being frustrated, don’t act as you received that something if your answer to any of the first three questions is “No.”
If your answer to the first three questions is yes, then there’s no reason for you not to expect an answer – in his time.
Let me share you one more story before I end this blog.
Two years before having a Canadian visa, we were already saying our goodbyes to our old community. What I’m trying to tell you is, after submitting our application, we were already saying our goodbyes.
Before I forget to mention, when we submitted our application, this was the time when my wife and I have no permanent job and both of us have no business income. We have no proof of income based on our income tax returns. Our chance to be granted a visa based on our credentials is a high 10%.
Within those two years of waiting, many people keep on asking this question, when will we leave for Canada? We would just answer, “soon, very soon.”
It never crossed our minds that we will be denied of a visa. What we know is, to all of the four questions, our answer was a resounding yes!
And behold, we are now living in this beautiful country for the last 8 years proclaiming to the world how good our God is!
To my fellow Canadians - Happy Canada Day! (July 1)
I’m sure there are many other ways to discern God’s will for us.
It would be nice if you could also share how you discern your plans if they are God’s will for you…
God is Great!
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