Dad used to say “If you face the problem, don’t sit down mourning about it. Get up and find a solution, best solution possible.” Growing up under a single mother who raised up 7 sons by herself, he had to be mature and independent at a very young age. When he was still a child, he had to sell water melon, ice cream, news paper and chewing gums to survive each day. He is someone who knows what it is like to survive in a cold society that nobody is there to help.
I perhaps got my head-strongness and independence from him. I learned quickly that when I get into a trouble, sitting down and weeping wishing to get an attention from others, or soaking in the pity party doesn’t help the situation at all. If I cannot take care of my own life and put it in a proper order, how can I be responsible for my family life in the future? Now it comes naturally to me to analyze, plan, implement and evaluate everything in life.
I recall, for this reason, God had to show me how helpless I am without him, through many situations in life. Again and again I would habitually plan, revise and push it through, replying upon my wisdom and strength other than God’s. Few times He drove me to the corner where although I’m doing everything right and it just doesn’t produce the result I expected. Until the moment I faint in frustration and crying out, he would push me to the edge and just little more. And just the moment I let it go and fall off the cliff, then, he catches me with his hands
Looking back, I am grateful that he allowed me through those tough times. It must’ve been hard for him to see me in a bad shape and not helping, but he had to, for my own sake. Now I know because of those times I grew to know Him the way I do now, and still learning. My God turned the sorrow into joy, weeping into dancing, and His name is glorified in my praise and thanksgiving.
Truth is, miracle happens because of an impossible situation.
I like what your dad said, and he has taught and raised you well. I think there is wisdom in that. Sometimes I find that too often too many tend to ruminate about the poor plight they are in rather then to do something about it.
Yet I agree with you too that sometimes we rush in instead of waiting for God’s leading. However, we ought also to be careful that this does not become an excuse for not doing anything.
I recently shared with someone some thoughts on how to balance taking action and waiting for God by comparing Moses and David. Both took action on their own when they saw something was not right.
For Moses, he saw a need, a situation – a fellow Hebrew being beaten by the Egyptian; so he took action by killing the Egyptian and hid him in the sand; but it turned out bad, i.e., he messed up with his decision to take certain actions (Exodus 2:11-15). In the end, he had to flee to Midian and only after “learning” how to be patient (I think it takes a lot of patience to be a shepherd) for many years before God called him to lead His people out of Egypt.
David also saw a need, a situation – Goliath was mocking and defying the Israelite Army; so he took action by picking up 5 smooth stones and went to take care of the need, the situation – Goliath; it turned out well (1 Sam 17:40-54).
So both Moses and David saw a need, a situation and both decided to take action to address the need/situation but why did one mess up but not the other?
May I suggest that Moses took actions without having God in mind while David did (yes, in v.26, David did ask what reward will the man get who kills Goliath but in the same verse David was also thinking about God being defied by the Philistines; and verses 45-47 do show that David was having God’s Name and glory in mind when confronting Goliath).
So I think when we see a situation that needs to be addressed, so long as we analyze and think that our actions will be pleasing and glorifying to God, we should take a step of faith and consider taking action. But if the action taken is because the situation does not satisfy what we think we want, then maybe we should think twice before taking the action.
I know sometimes it’s not as easy to decide whether we should take action or wait. And sometimes taking actions can have dire consequences that may turn out not what we expect. But here’s another thought – if things don’t work after taking action out does it mean I have messed up, failed and displeased God? Maybe not. Take the case of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor and theologian during World War II, living in Germany.
Since the bible does teach that we should respect and submit to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-5), I guess he had to struggle too when deciding whether he should minister and be involved with an anti-Hitler resistance group, of which some German Military Intelligence Officers in that group eventually plotted and carried out assassination plans against Adolf Hitler. I’m sure as a believer he knows one should not kill or murder but yet he sees the evil carnage Hilter was promoting and doing. Although Dietrich did not directly participated in carrying out the assassination plans he was well aware of the plans and was invovled as he played an advisory and ministerial role to the people in the resistance group.
In the end the assassination attempts failed and Dietrich was caught and rounded up by the Nazi authorities. Eventually, they executed him just two weeks before US soldiers liberated the prison camp he was jailed in. Many may probably think he made a mistake to take action and join in the resistance group because Hilter did not die but instead Dietrich and the conspirators lost their lives. So was it really a mistake? A mess? A failure dishonouring God? Maybe in the eyes of the world and human wisdom it seems so but I think not in the eyes of God. For I think Dietrich brought glory to God even by his death which resulted from his taking action and was a wonderful testimony to others. Here is what the prison camp doctor wrote about Dietrich when he witnessed Dietrich’s execution:
“I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer … kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.” ( Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer )
So sometimes even our failed messed-up actions may just be pleasing to God as they still bring glory to God. And if they do then perhaps the actions taken are well worth the taking.
Cheers!
thank you for this feedback, particularly in my current situation i find your words timely and encouraging. I was just sharing to someone few days ago how, the concept of success in human eyes and that of God is quite different at times. God does not seek for the number size or even outcome to measure success unlike humans do. I believe the essence of it is the will of God being done in obedience. Over the years i learned that the will of God is often strikingly different with that of human beings too. Many things would only reveal its reason and influence years only later if not never. We need not to be discouraged at the instant result or how it seems like, if we have obeyed the voice of God and we know it. thank you geo and thx for the Christmas greetings..I will be back on track.