Sometimes when things are going badly, we ask God for a miracle. We ask Him to intervene directly and heal or remove something. But what do you do when you don’t get the miracle you wanted? What if God says no?
What do you do when there is no miracle?
In church yesterday morning, I wrote down notes on things to do when there is no miracle.
Trust God and listen to your pain. It doesn’t feel nice, but God uses pain. Pain breaks through the illusions that true joy and happiness come by living a trouble-free life, that we are self-sufficient, and that Christians are somehow exempt from suffering.
Trust God and look for His purpose. When facing a problem, you’ll want to ask “Why?” But rather than be preoccupied with the “whys” of life, we must focus on the God who supports all of life. Sometimes the better question is “What?” Good character is not built overnight, and sometimes the most painful problem will shape you for the better.
Trust God and learn of His power. God is always there. God is always ready to help you when you ask. It is through the darkness and storms that we see God’s power, not necessarily on the other side. Sometimes you receive a miracle you weren’t looking for. Sometimes the miracle isn’t relief and release, but transformation. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
Trust God and lean upon His promise. Don’t doubt in the darkness what God has shown you in the light!