Don't Give Up on God

In the morning, Ο Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Psalm 5:3

God wants us to believe in Him.

A speaker posed this question to his audience: “If you could ask God to do one thing for you in the spiritual realm, what would it be?” There is an endless list of possible answers to a question like that:

• Break a bad habit.
• Forgive someone who hurt me.
• Have my child come back to God.
• See my loved one come to Christ.
• Change my character.
• Know deliverance from discouragement.
• Have new zeal for God.
• Receive power to overcome temptation.
• Be bold for Christ.

Whatever it is, it’s not too hard for God.

Each week, members of my congregation submit prayer requests to the staff. Each Tuesday as I look at the list, I am struck by the many needs of our people. Some of the requests are truly heartbreaking. Yet as I consider the list, I want to write Genesis 18:14 at the top, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” No matter how impossible your request may seem to you, it’s not too hard for God.

I ran across this provocative statement: “The only thing that hinders God is our unbelief.” We have to stop and think about that for a moment because it doesn’t sound right to say anything “hinders” God. And in the literal sense, nothing does. He is the Sovereign Lord of the universe. No one can stand against Him.

Yet in His wisdom, He has ordained that He will limit His work in the world according to the faith of His people. In that sense, it is perfectly proper to say our faith or the lack of it either opens the door for the Almighty or “ties His hands,” so to speak. Billy Graham has remarked that heaven is filled with answers for which no one bothered to ask:

• Are you willing to wait?
• Are you willing to work?
• Are you willing to believe God?

What do you believe deep in your heart? Is anything too hard for the Lord? Anything in your life so big that He can’t handle it? You already know the answer is no, but I’m asking it differently. What problem seems so impossible that part of you doubts God can take care of it?

God wants us to believe in Him. He begs us to believe in Him. He dares us to trust Him. Is your problem too hard for the Lord? If you answer yes, then what hope is left for you? But if you say no, then you will have a bright tomorrow! The choice is yours. Thousands upon thousands of times, many thousands of believers across the centuries have put God to the test. They have trusted Him, and He has come through for them.

What about you?

Are you willing to trust Him with your problems?

Eternal God, You are so much bigger than my puny faith. I believe, Lord—help Thou my unbelief. Amen.

1. What one thing would you like God to do for you?

2. Are you willing to wait for Him to work?

3. Write down your request, and then write Genesis 18:14 over it.