I know I like to be in control. I know what I want God to do for me. I come before him with pride in my heart, as though we are equals, and I begin the process of negotiation to get what I want. Like many people, I try my hardest to manipulate God. I treat him like the almighty vending machine. I think if I put the right things in, that I will get the right blessing out.
Have you ever tried to bargain with God? You promise that if your team wins, you will attend church every Sunday for the next year. Or you promise that if you get the job, you will put a generous offering in the plate. Or you promise that if he heals your disease, you will volunteer 20 hours each week.
But that is not how God works. He doesn’t bargain with you. He answers your prayers out of grace. He doesn’t give you anything because you deserve it. It is not about what you have done or will do for him. He gives you everything he gives because he loves you.
We are not equals. We do not have anything we can negotiate. We have nothing to give him that he does not already have. All we have is to appeal to his mercy.
Our role is faith and humble trust. God knows what he is doing. Growing in faith, means we become more comfortable that we don’t have all the answers. It is learning contentment with the realization we are not going to always get our way.
We follow God’s lead. He will give, and he will take away. We don’t always understand what God is doing. But learning to trust is asking God’s will to be done. We give up what we want, knowing God will give us what he wants, which is more than we could even ask.
Reflection
- How do you bargain with God?
- How have you learned to trust God even when you don’t receive what you want?
Prayer
Lord, who am I? I ask out of pride and the belief that I am more deserving than I am. I try to manipulate you into doing what I want you to do. But you are Holy. You are greater than I could ever imagine. Grant me humility to not be so presumptuous before you. And give me faith to trust in your way. Amen.
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