When God says, "No." Part 2

When God says, “No.” Part 2

So I never got around to dealing with the issue of God saying, “no” in my last entry.

Let me begin by saying better minds than mine have wrestled with this for centuries and I’m not even sure there is a satisfactory response.

It’s an emotional question. We only ever ask it when we don’t get something we really want. Actually, it’s worse than that – usually it’s not just something we want, it’s something we desperately need (or think we need).

If it’s something fickle or foolish our heart tells us right away we shouldn’t be asking for it… it’s petty, selfish or worse, self-centred. When these requests go unanswered we sigh and say, “Well, it’s all for the best” But what about when we think what we are asking for IS the best…?

I don’t know if I can articulate this well or not, but I don’t think God is up there like some sort of cosmic judge who decides on the basis of our bargaining or arguments whether or not to grant our requests.

We love to depict God in the extremes. Either He’s a stern-faced bully daring us to ask for what we need or He’s depicted as grandpa who showers us with (mostly useless) gifts.

He’s blessing and blessing or He’s looking to slap us down when we ask for things.

But what if God is neither the Grinch nor Santa Claus? What if God knows something that we do not?

What if God knows that “stuff” is the most useless aspect of the creation? I didn’t say “bad”… or “evil” only that it’s useless… it’s temporary. Look around you – everything you see is in decay.

Even you! …at least the parts of you that you can see.

If that’s true you can understand why an eternal being would be so desperate to wean those He loves off of what cannot last, in order to feed them what cannot be destroyed.

What if God is not concerned with stuff… but with people? Not with what you possess but your personhood …what you are becoming… not trinkets but transformation.

When we frame our questions within these parameters it becomes easier to see why blaming God for “No” responses or even “Yes” responses makes no sense. We think of life as a series of demands which need to be satisfied (I want.. I need…) What if life is more about journey… or put another way, what if life is not about stuff we accumulate but about actually living.

Consider the example of someone asking God for money to pay their bills.

“God, I need $1000!”

The thing is money is not life… it’s stuff. Maybe what you actually need is patience… or trust… Maybe rather than saying “Yes” or “no” God says, “Can I walk with you? Let’s see how this situation is going to play out? Let’s see how this is going to shape you… grow you… develop you.”

In other words, what if there is something greater than, deeper than, more powerful than $1000 at stake here?

Now I know that for some people their situation seems like hell… “I don’t need a walk! If I don’t get this money I’m out on the street!” or “I don’t need a friend… I need a miracle!” I also know that two people can face identical circumstances and one will walk away bitter and angry will the other seems so joyful… peaceful… together… you wonder if it’s even possible.

What if the life-shaping … that is the shape of your life is determined not by your circumstances but your reaction to your circumstances. And what if all of God’s responses are requests to be there with you as you react to your circumstances?

AUAUAURGH I have failed yet again to coherently articulate my 2c…

What are your thoughts?