The Meadow

God does not withhold a good thing

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You hear this a lot. That God is a good God, He doesn’t withhold a good thing. 

It’s true, we have a Father that sent us His Son, whose life, death, and resurrection gave us the best thing we could ever hope for; eternal life. 

But we want more. 

It would be remiss to say that it’s wrong to desire anything outside that.

We have needs, we have wants, and dreams. Many of which we take to God in prayer.

But when it feels like he’s taking too long, what do you do? 

When you thought that thing/person/opportunity was the one but it passes by, how does it make you feel? 

Do you use that “setback” to redefine God’s character? 

In Luke 11:11 when speaking about how freely God gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask, Jesus says; “if a son asks His father for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?” 

See, God is not in the business of giving us things that will harm us. That’s someone else’s job. Rather, He seeks to give you life. A full life. 

If a child asks its mother for an apple, the mother is likely to give, because apples are good, they are healthy. But this may change depending on the timing. If a child asks their mother for 5 apples right before dinner, the answer is likely to be; “if you have them now, you’ll spoil your dinner.”

There are two things I want to examine: 

1. the timing

2. dinner 

God is not arbitrary, for everything He does, there is a reason. So what looks like a delay to you, is scheduling to God. The thing you want right now although it is good, it may not benefit you right now.

This is why we ask God for HIS will to be done, because when God composes a piece, not one note is out of tune. When God organises things, not one thing is out of place.

This brings me to dinner. Apples are good, healthy, nutritious. But dinner. Dinner can be all 5 of your 5 a day.

When the right foods are presented to you on your plate, it can give you the nutrients you need, give you energy, strengthen your bones, give you a good night sleep, and even prepare you for the next morning.

Apples are good, but they won’t keep you nearly as full as a nutritious meal. They won’t satiate you as long as a meal will. 

Don’t let the thing that looks good stop you from seeing the fullness of what God has waiting for you. 

 

Wait on the Lord.

 

©Wura Shote