DISAPPOINTED WITH GOD?

Many people are asking today, “Why do bad things happen?” specifically “Why do bad things happen to good people?”. I have come to the conclusion that because we live in a world of sin, bad things will happen. Part of life is experiencing bad things.

We call this the Betrayal Factor. This is when our faith is tested. The Lord says, “for them that honor me I will honor”. We believe that but sometimes it doesn’t happen.

If you have been in the church for any length of time, you have seen individuals give their lives to Jesus. Many sincerely believe they would follow their Savior & Lord wherever He would lead. But then they are immediately met with a test, most of the times regarding the Sabbath. Then an evangelist & or the local pastor tell the new convert that if they will give up their job on the Sabbath that the Lord will honor them with another job...a better job. What if that doesn’t happen? We hear stories where it happens that the new convert gets a better job, but there are times it does not happen.

A pastor friend of mine tells the story of his father. When he was baptized he was immediately faced with the problem of Sabbath work. He prayed. He believed & he stepped out in faith. He quit his job & another, better job did not happen. When it doesn’t happen the believer becomes discouraged. 90% of believers fail to break thru the Betrayal Factor. My friend’s father never recovered.

Exodus 5 is the story of Moses. God appeared to Moses & gave him instructions to go to Pharaoh to ask him to let the Lord’s people go. Moses had just had an experience with God. Then he faced a test of faith. Verses 19-23 (Read Clear Word) Moses said, “I followed, now we are worse off.” He felt betrayed by God.

John the Baptist was imprisoned. Darkness descends & he questions, “Is he really the one?”

I Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Some stay away from God because they are a afraid to be tested. There are a few reasons, I believe why people fail to get past the Betrayal Factor.

1. Is the unrealistic reading of the scriptures. Especially when we read & focus mainly on the miracles. Are there genuine miracles today? Yes, but I don’t believe we should focus only on the miracles. God performed miracles for Israe as they wandered in the desert. Yet how many entered into the promised land?

2. Selected reading of Bedtime Stories. I love Uncle Arthur’s Stories, but we could come away thinking that God answers every prayer. We begin to think of God as Santa Claus. If we ask, we will receive. There are times when we pray. God says “NO”. The truth is that God answers every prayer, but not every answer is “Yes”. If God always gave us whatever we asked for, we would become spoiled. We must believe that God knows what is best for us.

3. Popular religious programming. Many today are preaching a gospel of prosperity. Their montra is God wants me to be rich. When it doesn’t happen, they become discouraged. Riches are not “blessings” & poverty is not a “curse”. That’s what the parable of the rich man & Lazarus is about.

If we are outside of God’s will, “Does God remove His protection & we get sick?”

In James 5:14 & 15 (Read Clear Word) is the prayer for the sick. Some are raised up right now, some tomorrow, & some will be raised on resurrection morning. Yet some become discouraged & give up their faith if they don’t see immediate healing. The beautiful promise of this verse is the promise that your sins will be forgiven.

Jesus rebuked disease. Desire of Ages tells us that Jesus spent more time healing disease than he did preaching.

Remember the Pool of Bethesda. John 5:2-9. (Read Clear Word) Only one was healed. It is a mistake to think that everyone gets healed.

Turn to John 16:33. “These things I have spoken unto you, that ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but I have overcome the world.” We will all be tested. We will all face the Betrayal Factor, but the Lord tells us to have peace.

2 Cor. 7:4-5. (Read Clear Word) Paul suffered beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, etc. Much more than you or I have had to experience, yet he says in vs. 6 that he is exceeding joyful in all our tribulations.

I Peter 4:12-13. (Read Clear Word) Life is not fair but God is.

Phil 4:6-12. (Read Clear Word) Paul wrote these words from prison. Paul’s faith brought him stability.

Remember that 90% don’t recover from the Betrayal Factor. When our faith shrinks, we become bitter. There is a cure. Forgive the perceived offender. If we feel someone has offended us. Forgive. The perceived offender can be God. Forgive God for the disappointments. He has forgiven you.