Why do you fear Me? I heard a soft voice speak to my spirit.
It’s not easy for me to confront anyone about anything. For me, it is often an impossible task and I can talk myself out of it pretty quick. But, when a relationship is important and valuable, the need to confront someone could occur. For no matter what that relationship is – friendship, marriage, child to parent/parent to child, employee to employer, etc. – there will be struggles, misunderstandings and disagreements. It is these things that can grow a deep bond between two individuals, at any level, or if left unattended, dig a deep chasm. This is also true with God.
There have been times when I have not agreed with the decisions that God has made for me. He says “Wait” and I ask, “Why?” Why is not a forbidden question, but the motive in which we ask can definitely expose the condition of our hearts. Sometimes we want things done differently. We want salvation to come to our loved ones NOW. God says “Wait”. “For what?!” we ask. I have learned that waiting is better than getting things done according to my time frame. Sometimes I have wanted something so badly that I have convinced myself that God must be agreeing with me only to find out that I was wrong.
Confronting God seems like an oxymoron itself and yet, there are examples of it occurring within the pages of the Bible. Christ Himself confronted God by saying, “…if it is possible let this cup pass from Me…” I think the problem I have with confronting someone is not the action itself, but the misunderstanding of what it means.
Confronting someone is to face up to them, meet with them, deal with them or the situation. It does not carry with it a negative connotation unless it becomes a confrontation, at which point meeting with the person has may have become an ugly situation.
A few years back, a friend confronted me with her concerns about our friendship. It did not turn into a confrontation. Jesus confronted His father. He desired one thing and presented it to Him. But it must be noted that He did it with reverence and respect and a willingness to do what was best, even if that meant it wasn’t what He’d choose foremost.
“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”
Respect. He recognized that His father’s will was best, that His father knew best and so yes, He expressed His desire but added, “…if it’s possible…” He confronted God with the desire of His heart. Ultimately, however, His greatest desire was to do the will of His father, even if it cost Him his life.
It is interesting to think about the word ‘confront’. If you were to take the first part of the word ‘con’, in Spanish it means ‘with’. Put it with ‘front’, it means ‘with front’ or, in my mind, to stand before. (And granted, my mind works a lot differently than most.)
So, if confronting God is merely meeting with Him, face to face, dealing with what He has asked or allowed, than why would I fear Him? Perhaps the fear comes from a heart that does not have pure motives. Perhaps the reasons I come to Him with certain requests are selfish. Perhaps I need to examine the reasons behind my requests.
Sometimes I think we get confused as to whether what we ask for is God’s will or just our fleshly desires. I once heard a pastor on a radio station speak on praying God’s will. He said that if we are asking from a pure heart, with unselfish motives and can see no reason why what we ask for would not further the kingdom in some way, than we should ask with a heart of expectancy and trust. This does not mean God will ultimately answer according to our desire but we are praying for the will of God to the best of our ability.
Does God desire to see us healed? Is that too little to meet with Him face to face about? I often think it is easier to ask for others what we won’t ask for ourselves. I believe God’s heart has been broken more often than we could ever imagine ours have been or will be. He shares our sorrows. He understands them. So when we come to Him with a broken heart, with discouragement and disappointment ravaging our innermost beings, our dreams having been shattered and we are ready to give up, He understands. We can come to Him, face to face and when we cry and weep – when we pound our fists and want to scream – He pulls us closer, holds us tighter and says, “I was waiting for you.”
Fear is healthy when it is within the right context. God himself teaches us to fear Him. This is because of who He is – holy. This is because of what He can do – anything He desires. We are to fear Him with a holy fear, not be afraid of him like a whipped puppy. He is powerful. He is mighty. He is just. And, He is loving and merciful. One thing He is not – mean.
Why do you fear me?, He asked.
I went home and in the quietness of my living room, asked His forgiveness. There is no reason to be afraid to confront our heavenly Father. He loves us more than we’ll ever be able to comprehend and if our motives are pure, if our requests are asked according to His will, then we should be able to ask anything, knowing that He is listening and is ready to meet with us face to face, with open arms, without fear. He’s waiting. Are you ready?
Writing for Him,
Sherri
Comments:
Elisha Henry Millan That was very good. I’m going to share on my page. The part about praying for healing really struck me. I never pray for my own healing, as I know there is no cure, but I often pray for the speedy recovery and pray for the comfort of others, even if their ailment is not curable. I need to think on this.
