2 Kings 6:24-33

Verse 33, “…This trouble is from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”

This passage is disturbingly graphic with horror. The people of Samaria were driven beyond desperation, committing depraved acts to survive. The king of Israel was embittered and infuriated by what God had ‘allowed’. By refusing to humble himself and wait for God’s deliverance and provision, the king enthroned himself above Divine wisdom.

Chaos and disaster do not thwart God’s purposes and plans; they are not wasted but masterfully used to bring beauty out of ashes, yet we are naturally inclined to interpret the ‘seemingly disastrous actualities’ as a case proven for justified despair and unbelief before staring through such ‘facts’ in the light of God. How often we run foolishly into a wall of our own understanding – as Proverbs 3:5 exhorts to the contrary – and then wonder why on earth we feel under the weather. Our own understanding will presume God’s deliverance but then we lose heart when delays set in. It’s one thing to stand in faith as we present our requests to God, but another to remain confident in His character when what seemed to be perfectly valid in our asking is ‘denied’; the test comes when the crucial hits and God has ‘not’ – according to our facts – answered us in times of desperation. What has our motive been in pursuing God? A comfortable and hassle free life? We would do well to quit on the Lord now if He has been sought after for our own convenience, otherwise it will repeatedly bring us heartache and misery where there is no consolation and healing.

“After this, many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.” John 6:66. The ‘buzz’ and ‘thrills’ came to a screeching halt when they realized the hard facts of discipleship. Self yearns for the Savior but spurns His kingly rule. It is in such times where the genuineness of our professed faith is tried and proved, where we are not just called, but chosen. The heart of faith declares, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…”

When God’s honour is the motive behind our requests, we can avoid so much sulking and self pity when disappointment hits as we recognize they are His divine appointments for something far beyond we can ever anticipate.