You are for us, You are not against us; champion of heaven You made a way for all to enter in…

When we sing different songs at church, I often find myself stopping and asking myself if I truly and fully believe the words I am singing. Like with these lyrics, Do I really believe that God is for me not against me? (Romans 8:31)

I feel as though if I truly believed in this truth, without an ounce of doubt, being obedient and surrendering to God would be a WHOLE lot easier because I would trust that His way is perfect, that His plan and His direction is for me.

Reality is, though there is that part of me (the part of me where God’s spirit lives and is growing and His truth reigns pure, unwavering and undefiled by doubt ) that believes that God is for me, this truth has yet to play out fully and undefiled in my flesh. (It’s a battle! (Galatians 5:17) But *spoiler alert* we already know who wins! 😉 (Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 15: 50-58)

A few weeks ago, God was doing some work on me in this area. We had just started singing “Good, Good Father” by Housefires in church.

You’re a Good, Good Father
it’s who You are, it’s who You are
and I’m loved by You
it’s who I am, it’s who I am

While singing these lyrics I, once again, had to stop myself to ask do I really believe this?

Honest answer, when things are going my way or a way that makes sense to me then Yes! Yes Lord! You’re a Good, Good Father! 

But the moment things stop making sense, begin to fall out of my control or just don’t go the way I wanted or imagined, it changes from “Yes Lord! You’re a Good, Good Father!” to “Where are You Lord?! Why are You allowing this to happen!” 

Take special note at the punctuation.

These statements are not in the heart of “I trust You Lord, please reveal this to me so I can better understand…”  No, far from. They are from an accusatory place. “Lord! How could You let this happen?! I thought You were for me??? Well, You dropped the ball here! Where are You?!“

These statements are more often than not followed by me pushing God out of the drivers seat as I climb over and take the wheel, trying to steer the situation back to a place where I am comfortable and can control.

 I don’t trust God.

I don’t trust that He is always for me or perfect in all of His ways. I may believe in His overall plan for me but not in His methodology. 

I’ve been there several times (and I’m sure I’ll revisit that place again as I face increasingly difficult trails) but this time God has given me a strategy and equipped me with a weapon for victory in this battle, here and now.  Something I can arm and defend myself with the next time I doubt God’s alliance and feel the urge to jump into the driver’s seat. 

He showed me that HE IS my Good,Good Father 

“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9)

Here’s the truth the Holy Spirit revealed to me through these verses: God will not give me stones when I ask for bread!  He knows what I need before I even ask! (Matthew 6:8) He is able to do abundantly more than I could ever think or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20)

This truth has seriously helped me these last few weeks. When I face those doubts and thoughts “Where are You Lord?! Why are You allowing this to happen?! Why do You want me to do this?!” I take those thoughts captive and demolish them with the truth. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

I remind myself that God does not give me stones when I ask for bread. I trust that God will not give me the opposite or anything less than what I’ve asked for in His will, but always abundantly MORE. 

I want to encourage you to fight against every thought and lofty opinion brought against the knowledge of our Father in the same way our champion and brother Jesus fought against them.

My pastor had an entire sermon on this the day after God revealed the truth of these verses to me. He encouraged us to equip ourselves using Scripture.

When thoughts and doubts arise about God’s plan for our lives, when we doubt if God is for us, if He knows what is best and does what is best, SAY OUT LOUD TO THOSE DOUBTS

IT IS WRITTEN: Which one of you if his child asks for bread will give him a stone…? If you then, who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7: 9-11)

IT IS WRITTEN: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)