Doubting Thomas and the God who is Able

Did you hear me shouting?  Praising God and Jesus for listening?  For answering?

Do you remember a post I made from over a year ago?  It was entitled “Insurmountable”.  I chose that title because the issue that was going on in my family seemed just that to me.  It was SO huge.  In some ways, I felt like it was too difficult and too complicated for God to move and answer. 

But He did!!!  After two years of praying, He answered!!

Now, I certainly know God doesn’t always answer in the manner or way we think is best, but in this case, He did!!!

All I can do is fall on my knees and thank Him.  My heart is full to overflowing with gratefulness!!!  He is truly a Waymaker and Miracle Worker!

I will back up and give you some details.

God told me my prayer was going to get answered.  One day, when I was being still and quiet, He spoke clearly.  He gave me assurance that my prayer was in line with His will…and would be answered.  I didn’t know how, why, when or any of the particulars.

The message He gave me, through His still, small voice, was crystal clear.  There was no denying that it was from Him.  But yet…

There were moments, days and times that doubt rose up in me.

A co-worker at school, who knew a tidbit of the situation, just asked me an update.  As I told her, I was “walking by faith and not by sight.”  She said, “Laura, you’re good at that” to which I replied, “No, I’m not!” 

Friends, I was having to trust what God was telling me vs. the circumstances I was seeing before my eyes.  Things were happening to further the insurmountable situation and not further what I had requested of God in my prayers.  There were moments and days that it was difficult to trust.

Still, I clung to the words God gave me.  Not only that, there were times I was praying, and I knew He gave me certain scriptures to encourage me heart and remind me to keep persevering in prayer.

There were a small group of friends that knew ALL the details of the situation.  But even a few of them asked me to change my perspective on the issue.  Believe me, I questioned God at every turn and asked HIM to show me if my heart was wrong – and if my motives were pure – and if what I was praying lined up with His will. 

Why am I writing about this?

1. God told me to share it with you!  How can I not?  Our God is still in the miracle business.  And what He did was truly a MIRACLE.  He didn’t heal a physical ailment in my family, but what God did was even more powerful.  He reached down from heaven and caused one that was “blind” to “see”.  God intervened in such a way that it could NOT be counted as coincidence, happenstance or just a random act.    Even my prayer warrior friends were astounded and amazed at God’s power and provision. This fact was no coincidence.  I KNOW He grew their faith, along with mine, especially the ones who had prayed and were aware of ALL the circumstances.
2. Don’t doubt when He tells you truth or gives you a clear and direct Word.  Two days before the HUGE answer to prayer came in March, I was home and not working.  I had spent time with the Lord that morning and had a good time of prayer and time in the Word.  In the afternoon, I was folding clothes in my laundry room.  I don’t know about you, but God speaks to me a LOT in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room (I guess I spend a great deal of time in these rooms – ha!).  I stopped folding.  “God, am I crazy? Delusional?  Foolish?  I’m trying to cling to what you told me; I’m trying to believe with all that I am and with all my heart, but I’m not SEEING what needs to take place.”  That’s a summation of my “laundry room” prayer to the Lord. In other words, I was just like Thomas.  He wouldn’t believe what the other disciples told him when they claimed that they had seen Jesus and He had risen from the dead.  In His words recorded in John 20:24-25 Thomas proclaimed, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”  I’ve always thought Thomas missed a huge blessing by not exercising faith.  I sure never wanted to be anything like him! But I have to confess, on this day I was a doubting Thomas.  I wasn’t holding and clinging to what God had told me (and reassured me of).  I caved.  I doubted, just like Thomas, I’m ashamed to say.  But Jesus didn’t hold it against Thomas; He just met him where he was and revealed his scars.  What a patient, understanding and compassionate Jesus!

Two days after this conversation with the Lord, the answer we had been praying for came.  It had been approximately two years!!!  Two years of crying out to God and asking Him to “open eyes and hearts” and to “bind the enemy”.  I was in shock; my husband was in shock.  But we were praising the Lord!!!  I can honestly say that right after our conversations of disbelief, rejoicing and overflowing joy, we stopped right then and there and Praised God and told Him “thank you”.  Our hearts were full to overflowing!  Our INSURMOUNTABLE issue had come to a close.  We didn’t want to be like the 9 lepers who had been healed by Jesus and were thrilled with the outcome but didn’t even acknowledge The Healer; we desired to be like the one who ran back to express his gratitude to The Great Physician.  How could we not pause and raise our voices in thanksgiving?  Just like Jesus rose from the dead and defeated sin, death and overcame the enemy, God showed us that He alone has the power to overcome any circumstance!!  Truly “Nothing is too difficult” for Him (Jeremiah 17:17).

Why do I write and tell you that our God is a Waymaker, Miracle Worker and a Light in the Darkness?

Because I KNOW those of you reading this testimony are experiencing something similar.  There’s a burden on your heart for a family member, friend, yourself or someone in your life.  It may be for one that is lost and refuses salvation, a health issue, dysfunction in your family, financial issues, abuse in some form, marital problems, a prodigal child/grandchild and on and on.  All I know is God is faithful; He will not abandon you.  He alone knows what is best, and only HE knows how to remedy or solve the problem. 

During these two years of fretting, worrying, crying out to God and praying, He has taught me to “wait” on His timing. I have learned that I’m not good at waiting. I want the answer NOW; I want the earth to move NOW; I want MY way NOW.  Are you in that same boat?

One of the main scriptures the Lord kept bringing me back to – and one that constantly encouraged me was this nugget:

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord.”

The waiting is repeated twice.  God knows and understands that the waiting is difficult.  Hence, why He follows the first command with “be strong” and “take heart”.  One can only do that by trusting and relying on the Holy Spirit.  I truly believe He empowers us to do so…and strengthens our weak resolve. 

He sure taught me through this seemingly insurmountable situation to WAIT on His timing and rest in Him in the interim.  Some days I did okay; other times, I wallowed in it and struggled greatly.  But through the excruciating moments and the hopeful moments, I know He grew my faith.  He stretched me; He helped me look up; He reminded me that HE alone is in control, and I am not.

I think “waiting” and “resting” are both a tall order in our world today.

We all want our way NOW!  And we’ve been conditioned to expect and demand “our rights”!  So even with the God of the universe, we can let that same worldly mentality seep into our relationship with the living God.  At least I know I have.

Also, in our hectic, chaotic world of rushing here, being busy and constantly spending time on our phones or devices, it can be a challenge to “unplug”, turn off the TV, music, video games, apps or whatever electronic device and “be still and know God”.  I encourage you to be disciplined and do just that.  Make it a priority to relish the quiet, especially in your home.  God shouldn’t have to compete with the “noise-makers” in our world.  I know a few folks who aren’t comfortable without the TV blaring or music on constantly.  It’s hard to hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit when we allow these modern- day devices to take center stage. 

And be encouraged.  God does listen; He does care; and in the words of Tim Keller, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.  Trust Him.  Love Him.  And they will all be good for you.”

And one more scripture I’ll leave you with that has become a favorite. I claimed it many times; I pray it encourages you. And He helps you believe it with all your heart! “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” Ephesians 3:20

I’d love to hear your stories and testimonies of how God has answered and done the impossible in your insurmountable circumstances.  I know you have some! 

Maybe you’re still at the “waiting” stage.  If so, just keep trusting, my friend.