But Even If YOU Don't

It surely is something when God answers our prayers, when He moves our mountains, when He calms our raging seas, & when He does what we as people call “the impossible.” It is easy to trust Him and say, “God, I thank you.”

I have some questions for you. What if He doesn't do it? What if He doesn’t answer the prayer? What if He doesn’t move the mountain? What if He doesn’t calm our raging seas? What if He doesn’t do what we as people call “the impossible?” What if He doesn’t do it?

Sometimes God does not answer prayers immediately, which reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego. They were getting ready to be thrown into the fiery furnace because they would not bow to the king’s statue. Before they were thrown in, they told the king, "our God can save us, He will save us, but even if He doesn’t, we’re still not going to bow." They were thrown in, they saw the fourth man in there, and it was God. God didn't snatch them from the situation. He allowed them to be thrown in the furnace, but He didn't allow it to harm them. He did not allow them to walk in there alone. He was with them.

There will be times when God answers our prayers quicker than we expect. There will be times when God moves the mountain. There will be times when God chooses to calm the sea. There will be times when God does what we as people call “the impossible,” but even if He doesn't, child of God, are you going to bow? Will you bow to the anxiety that lies on the other side of the prayer? Will you bow to the fear that keeps you from speaking to the mountain? Will you bow to the storm that creates chaos on the sea? Will you bow to the possibility of the impossible never happening, or will you trust that even if Papa God does not do it, I know He's with me always?

There will be times when God does not give an automatic answer to our prayers, but He will walk us to it. There will be times when God does not move the mountain, but He will help us find our way around it. There will be times when God chooses not to calm the sea, but He will be that peace on the boat, with us, letting us know we will make it to the other side. There will be times when God does not do what we call “the impossible,” but He is still good. What will you choose to do here in the waiting? I don't know about you, but I choose not to bow and choose to say “God, I thank you.” I will trust in Him knowing that no matter what obstacle comes my way, He is still good, & He is with me.

I know religion teaches us if you do not receive what you have prayed for immediately then you have done something wrong, and you need to ”repent.” That is not the case at all. During this life, sometimes we will have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death that we lead ourselves into. But what religion does not teach you is that no matter what situation you lead yourself into, Papa God is with you to walk you through it.

The situation does not change the goodness of God, nor does it change His loyalty. He will not let the fire/the situation harm you. He’s good, even when it feels like all hell is breaking loose in our lives. He’s with us when we take OURSELVES through the valley. David said in Psalm 23 “ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…… You are with me.” He’s with us even when it doesn’t feel like it. He will not snatch us out of every situation, and that is okay. He never promised that life would be easy, but He did promise to never leave us nor forsake us.

If He doesn’t give an automatic answer to my prayer, God, I thank you! If He doesn’t move the mountain, God, I thank you! If He doesn’t calm the sea, God, I thank you! If He doesn’t do what we think is “the impossible,” God, I thank you! In every season, in every moment, and during each obstacle, I will choose not to bow and I will choose to give thanks because even if He doesn't snatch me out of my ashes, I can trust that Papa God will walk with me to the beauty.

-Taleigh E. Reed