If God Doesn't Do It, It Won't Get Done

Have you ever had your back against the wall and saw no way out of a situation and even when you prayed, nothing changed?

I think we've all been there.

No plan B.  No safety net.  No control of the situation.

A couple of years ago I thought everything was fine.  I logged onto work as I had done for two years and by the end of the day I was without a job.  Never saw it coming.  I was blindsided.  Suddenly for the first time in my adult life I was unemployed.

I won't lie.  It hurt me bad.  It shook me.  I never saw it coming.

As you can imagine, my prayer life ramped up after that happened.  After taking 24 hours to recover from the shock I started looking for a job.  I had a lead and thought I was going to slide into it but the company kept delaying.  I prayed and thought it was God's will.  The waiting continued and my funds were soon running out.  I finally resigned that if God didn't do something that it wasn't going to get done.  I had to step out on faith over my anxiety of the situation.

When it looked like nothing was going to happen, suddenly something big happened. I was hired by another company for a better position with more money.  It was no coincidence.  It was God.  

We can pray and plead with God but we eventually have to leave it with Him.  We can't make God do anything.  He either does it or He doesn't.  And if He doesn't He's still doing something.  Just because God doesn't do it our way doesn't mean He's not doing anything.  Timing is often in God's plan for us.  The pressure is on God - not us when we pray.  We pray and leave the results to Him.  

There are times when we feel absolutely certain that we are praying God's will yet we see no results.  It appears that God isn't doing anything.  Those are the hardest - and most important times - to have faith.  Having faith in God when we see no results is one of the hardest things a believer can experience.

When God doesn't answer, we have to assume there is a reason.  God can do anything He wants to do when He wants to do it.  He doesn't need our permission or manipulative prayers to do it. Our prayers should not be able dictating outcomes or demanding instant results from God.  That's not how He works.  God is about building a relationship and aligning our desires with His will.  God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours and His timing is often different from our expectations.  Trust in God's timing and that it will work together for His purpose.  

Prayer only works when we put ourselves in alignment with God.  

When I was going through the time I lost my job and was desperately looking for another one, the song "Desert Road" was released by Casting Crowns.  Very timely for my situation.  The chorus in this song gave me strength through it.

I don't know where this is goin'
But I know who holds my hand
It's not the path I would've chosen
But I'll follow You to the end
Lord, as long as I am breathin'
I will make Your glory known
Even if it means I'm walkin'
On this desert road

My Mood Swings Are Making Me Dizzy

I have a confession. At times I can be moody.

I’m sure this is no surprise to people who know me.

So what does it mean to be moody?

A moody person experiences frequent and unpredictable changes in their emotions and behavior, often becoming angry or depressed without warning. They might be friendly one day and aloof the next, making them seem "hot" or "cold" to others. "Moody" is often used as shorthand for "unpredictable".

Several years ago when I was going through a background investigation for a security clearance, the investigator interviewed someone that knew me. I was stunned when I read the interview later. She told the investigator that I was a moody person and she never knew what mood I would be in. She also didn’t recommend me for a security clearance. I did get the clearance but what this person didn’t know was she was also a moody person herself and I wasn’t particularly fond of her.

As painful as it is to admit, my mood is something I have to constantly work on. My mood can change drastically and many times I don’t even realize the mood I am projecting.

Yeah, it’s annoying to be me sometimes.

Regrettably I have often been told that I am a moody person. It certainly isn’t anything I am proud of.

Can these mood swings be controlled? You would think so.

The most common thing a moody person is asked is “what’s wrong?” Honestly there are time I don’t even know what’s wrong or why I am in a mood.

If I were to examine what causes mood swings for me and others, these would be the reasons:

Physical pain
I can tell you that nothing affects my mood more than being in physical pain. When I am in pain, I want to get rid of the pain and I don’t want to have much interaction.

Climate
If the temperature isn’t right - especially if it’s too hot - my mood can take a turn for the worse. My mood is usually better in climate-controlled conditions.

Hangry
This is probably a common reason my mood can change especially if my blood sugar is getting low.

People
I try to get along with everyone but there are some which aren’t a good fit. Even when I try to like them, my mood can show through.

Anxious
When I am stressed or anxious about something my mood can get rather intense.

Unknown
Honestly there are times that I have no idea why my mood is changing. I have even asked myself why am I in a bad mood.

Let me be clear and say I am not excusing my moods I am just giving the reasons for them.

I am improving (though not cured) in identifying and correcting my moodiness. When I sense the mood swinging I take a moment and reset. Sometimes this works sometimes it doesn’t. It’s a work in progress. I still have to apologize a lot for my moods.

Thankfully I am glad I have people around me that know me and who know that I have these moments. I know I don’t make it easy on them. I am working on me which isn’t an easy task.

If you a have a moody person in your life, try to cut them some slack. Talk to them and try to find out why they are moody without arguing. Suggest ways the person can reset and refocus their mood.

Seeing Jesus in Everyday Life

I am currently reading the novel “Seeing Jesus” by Jeffrey McClain Jones which tells the story of a guy that starts seeing Jesus.  No one else can see him.  This experience creates some interesting scenarios as you can imagine.

 

Although I don’t physically see Jesus like the character in the book does, I have learned to relate to Jesus as if I’m talking to you.  Yes, sometimes I don’t realize I’m talking to him out loud so I’m sure others think I am talking to myself.  That’s fine since most people have phones or buds in their ears talking to others not seen.  (Maybe I should get some ear buds too.)

 

I grew up in a church which made praying to God some supernatural experience as well as very loud.  I have known people who would yell and scream to God in their prayers.  Some would speak in tongues as if this was some sort of magical communication with God.  You don't need those methods to communicate with Him.  God can hear a thought or a tear.  My own personal experience changed after a visit to a monastery several years ago, my relationship has evolved into a more personalized interaction.  That experience totally changed me.

 

So, yes, I talk to Jesus and I also try to listen to Him which is very difficult to do.  The listening part is difficult because there is a challenge to separate Gods voice with your own.  It’s like tuning in the right frequency on the radio.  There is a lot of noise and interference around us so that takes constant practice.  Honestly I don’t always hear correctly but I’m trying.

 

Many days if I’m walking down the street to run errands I will talk to Jesus about the needs of friends and family members. If I know your need, I am talking to Him about it.  That’s how my relationship is with Him these days.  

Whether or not you believe it doesn't change anything for me. I know He is with me.  Do I think I’m something special?  No and I still get it wrong.  

Am I crazy to believe I can talk to God?  You may thing so but you aren’t me and you haven’t lived my life.  Make whatever assumptions you want to make but Psalm 16:8 says: “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” 

It is absolutely okay to talk to God as you would a friend. This kind of interaction fosters a sense of closeness and intimacy with the divine. It's about approaching God with honesty and vulnerability, sharing your thoughts, feelings, and concerns just as you would with a close friend. 

Prayer doesn't have to be some mystic or weird practice.  You don't have to be in a church to do it or label yourself as any specific denomination.  You and God.  That's it.  You don't need all of the other stuff or books that give you 10 ways to talk to God.  You just do it.  It isn't complicated but it does take practice.