"Noah looked crazy until it rained."
We can often look insane until we are crowned brave.
And I mean textbook insane, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Praying, fasting, trusting and obeying God is not for the faint of heart. God will show Himself mighty and strong...right after you get finished looking silly.
"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
1 Corinthians 1:21 KJV
It's not because God wants you to look silly, or feel crazy, it's because in these moments our faith is being tested and our relationships with God are being deepened. In the moment, it may not feel like that, which is why we feel some type of way. Especially when things look bad, because sometimes, things just look bad.
Full stop. No exaggeration. No sugar coating it.
Sometimes, we feel like we've been minding our business, serving God in our quiet little corner, and suddenly, disaster strikes. And you know what? That's life. God allows it to rain on the just as well as the unjust (Matthew 5:45), and it often rains the hardest after a drought.
Yet, God is present and in control even when life seems like a whirlwind of destruction. Even when we have $.38 in our bank account, rent is due, the phone bill is due, con ed wants their money, and you don't have any food in your refrigerator or a clue as to how any of these problems will be answered. God still commands us to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6-7) and to cast all of our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
So we look a little insane, because we pray, cry, fast, praise and pray some more doing the same thing we do every time things get tough, except we are expecting the same result.
We're expecting God to keep His promises to us, because He hasn't failed us yet. There's not one trial I've faced that God hasn't fixed and that's my personal history. The only reason I even have had the courage to trust God, is because of His Word.
Like in Genesis 5-10, when God told Noah that it was going to rain, and then the heavens opened up for 40 days and 40 nights.
Or when Job's faith was tried it not only strengthened his faith, his love for God and faithfulness in spite of what he was going through allowed him to be blessed beyond measure.
And especially in Genesis 22:9-13 when God told Abraham to sacrifice the son He had promised to Him, only to display His power through the ram in the bush.
God is always going to answer our obedience with answered prayers and fulfilled promises, in His time. We just have to allow ourselves to look a little crazy first, knowing that our lack, trials, and suffering are yet another opportunity for Him to display His glory.
Is it going to always feel good?
No.
Is it worth it?
Isn't it always?
