Difficult it is for us men to hear of struggle and issues of trouble and not try to solve or rescue the troubled one. We are wired as 'fixers', constructors of answers or finders of solutions, at least I often find myself as such. So, when the earthly love of my life is in a valley, this time at work, wrestling with genuine angst and a bit of fear, my heart is desperately desiring to be her knight, riding into her trouble, carrying her off to safety and peace. I could offer her suggestions and ideas, but I am being told to be only encouraging and mostly praying. As our nation struggles and men throw their empty answers of hope and provision around, again, I am being told to be only encouraging and mostly praying.
It is so 'not me', letting her talk about situations, share her frustrations, all the while, just holding her hand or looking into her struggling eyes with tenderness and concern, with all the strength I can muster, then pausing to pray about it or say something to let her know I am standing with her in this time and struggle. As I think about our nation, it is so 'not me' to rather than lead a continual charge, blathering about what 'seems obvious to me' and to most 'rational' citizens our answer to the issues and problems our nation faces, and just stand with her (America) in this time and struggle.
I find myself learning to lean and learning to listen. Not only to her (my wife and my country), but most importantly to God. He is asking of me something that goes against my fiber, my wiring, my...pride; saying less and praying more, much less and much more.
While most people, including myself, think that praying is our talking with God, I am finding more value in the leaning and listening rather than the tirades I spin in His direction, now finding my heart, changed. Some root characteristics that once overwhelmed me (I seem to like to talk...what teacher doesn't?) is finding temper, balance and I believe, pervasive prudence. I am beginning to really enjoy 'listening' rather than hearing myself 'talk', nearly forcing myself not to speak unless completely compelled to do so, by God himself, not me. I have noticed that often, even when I want to say something, He has another start speaking before I can get going, and for these 'reminders', I am thankful. I need His help still to be still, learn to be quiet, cease the pursuit of making sure others hear what I 'think' I 'have' to say.
Most fascinating, is that the less I say, and the more I pray, the more miraculous the result; the more I find I am learning to trust His working, His solutions, His answers which exceed anything I could hope or desire. Sure, a plethora currently remain 'unanswered' today, but I am confident that His answer and timing will reveal His glory; Confident because I see His answers, His glory unfold in my recent days.
I have invested in the study of His scriptures, exposing His character and leading to others and continue to do so. I now find myself with the singular desire to unleash the fullness of God into my life and the lives around me, something I cannot do, only He can. So as I learn to lean, and learn to listen I find myself learning to let God be God in and around my life. Duh. I have come to discover that it is not for me to solve, unravel, rescue, or answer, it is up to, as it always was and is, Him.
What would happen if our nation of believers fully trusted in our Lord and Savior? What would happen if God were sought with diligence and humility? In prayer and fasting? What would happen if ALL His men, His people would seek His answers, His provision, His direction for solutions to our really complex issues and problems?
He says:
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.’
“But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And at this house, which was exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore he has brought all this disaster on them.’”
(2 Chronicles 7:13-22 ESV)
We are not Israel, but we certainly once were a nation brought out of a land of burden, to a land with His new opportunities, along with His leading. We have abandoned His statutes and commandments. Ask yourself this...does it not seem like He is beginning to "pluck you up from my land that I have given you?...and cast you from my sight?" BUT, notice the call isn't to change the hearts of those who don't know Him, rather only ours, His followers, His real followers! His people.
The problems my wife faces at work pale, significantly, to the problems we face as a nation. God will provide her, and my struggling heart for her, answers. Yet now I find myself at His feet asking for an immense and far more reaching issue, the heart of this nation in which I find myself living. Is it possible that He would lead us, His people to a return? He is God and can do anything we ask or desire. I am starting with myself, and praying that He infects, instills, informs and instigates a mighty movement, His holy presence returning to a nation who once trusted Him for our leading, leaning on Him for our protection.
I find myself learning to lean and learning to listen. Will we, as a nation, learn to lean and learn to listen once more to the almighty, righteous, holy, wholly worthy, God?
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