Are You Dating God or Married to Him?

Think back to when you were a teen. Did you ever have a crush on someone you barely knew? 

Someone you thought was totally awesome and you pictured yourself VERY happy dating them?

From afar they looked perfect, they acted perfect, they made you feel perfect and you couldn’t image anyone being more perfectly suited for you?

Then something happens…you get to KNOW them.

And suddenly there are dents in your dreams; the image of who you created them to be doesn’t match reality. 

This person ISN’T perfect. 

And they don’t make you feel perfect.

So you wonder if maybe there’s someone else better for you, someone who can meet your mental image.

I think perhaps this is what we do with God.

We have a little knowledge of Him.

We see Him from afar and we like what we see.

We also like what we hear about Him.

He heals the sick, He gives eternal life, He forgives all your mistakes, etc. The list of how awesome He is sounds wonderful.

You can really see yourself liking this God. 

But then something happens.

He doesn’t act the way you THINK He should.

He doesn’t answer a prayer in a timely manner.

He convicts you of a sin you really enjoy.

Also, being a follower of His isn’t as popular as you thought.

Suddenly you wonder if maybe you made a mistake in this whole “Christianity” thing.

Maybe you were wrong, this isn’t the right God for you. Maybe you need to find one better suited to you needs.

Two passages of Scripture come to mind when I think of this: 

The Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-22 and Christ’s response to John the Baptist in Matthew 11:6, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Many get offended by God.

He doesn’t act like we think He should.

He allows horrible things to happen.

He waits when we need Him to act.

Bob Sorge tells Christians what they SHOULD do when God doesn’t fit their ideal image of Him in chapter 14 of “The Fire of Delayed Answers”, 

“I will not adjust my theology to accommodate my experience…I will not adapt my expectations or faith stand or view of God’s word because I’m still not healed... Instead, I’m going after God with everything I’ve got.” (pg 216)

We can’t treat God as if He’s human. We can’t have an idea in our heads about who He is and how He should act and then completely toss Him aside when He doesn’t fit our mold. He isn’t someone we date in High School.

He is God.

He deserves respect.

He also deserves us to get to know Him.

How do we know who He is or how He acts if we only have a foggy and/or make believe picture of Him in our heads?

We must spend time in His love letter to us (BIBLE). Fall in love with Him. Know His promises.

Yes, there will be times that your life experiences don’t match up with certain Scriptures. You may not be healed instantly; you might have to go through some hard times. But when situations like this occur, don’t turn you back on God. Press in closer.

If you were married to the love of your life for fifteen years and then one day they did something that really hurt you or bothered you, I doubt you’d call it quits. I hope you wouldn’t seek a divorce. Instead, I hope you would make every effort to work it out. 

You need to put that type of commitment and persistence into seeking God, especially when He isn’t acting as you think He should.

The Bible promises us that when we seek Him, we will find Him. Luke 11:9-13

Don’t give up on God…He will never give up on you.

Know the His Word, so like David, you can say with confidence, 

"I would have lost heart, unless I believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 NKJV

Join the Book club discussion of, “The Fire of Delayed Answers” by Bob Sorge. You can read more about this chapter from: Jason, Sarah, Dusty, Kari, Glynn,  and Joell.