"Disappointed In God?"

We have seen it over and over. People, sincere godly people that are disappointed in God. We look at the world around, those who live for the weekend to party, to gamble or to do whatever they do in their non-caring lives about anything of the holy and righteous Father. They seem content and happy but here we sit, wondering why have we not found the contentment, the fulfillment of life. Then we hear preachers and teachers where we worship speak about the One who "is able to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20) but we find little of that in our lives.

We read of Jesus and how God worked in Him and with Him yet we see so little of that in our own personal lives. We want to believe God works. We don't want to doubt God and His word but there is that something that seems to be missing from time to time and we are fearful to ask because we think it is a lack of faith on our part so we don't want to be seen in that light.

Preachers and teachers speak about how God will act or direct our lives in some sort of miraculous way or even an immediate way to sweep away our struggles and doubts. The problem with many is we have been programed to believe this way and not seeing the reality and purpose of God. We want to see the heavenly Father work in us like He did in Jesus. Why are many disappointed in God? Because we are looking at promises that aren't really made in the way we were taught they were made. The bottom line, God is concerned for us...in our daily character and our eternal well being. God's not looking to make our ways smooth. He is trying to build our character to reveal His character. While God is concerned about us deeply, His concern is centered around eternity and being conformed to the image of His Son. Character, the part of us that will stand under trials, being faithful in our words and lives that will take us to the hope of eternity with Him. God is trying to knock off many of our selfish and self-centered ways and in order to do that, trials and struggles are needed to help in that not ease and happiness! "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered." (Heb. 5:8)

While our Lord walked this earth, He NEVER offered miracles for the redeemed life! He NEVER promoted good health in place of living righteously. He NEVER promised happiness and peace to be enjoyed without God. I know there will be many who will continue to doubt God, to be disappointed with God in their struggles because they simply have been programed to think that God will swoop in, rescue them from situations and heartaches so they can live a life with little conflict and it devastates them when God doesn't respond to all their prayers and requests. God's promise is eternal. God deals in eternity. God promises to us certain things to help us on our journey but the ultimate goal and purpose still lay ahead. Jesus isn't finished yet! There is still coming a day when we will stand in His holy and awesome presence and all those disappointments and struggles will be as nothing and well worth it because we will have finished the course of our short lives and say, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" We know that, don't we?