When God doesn't make sense! - Paul Kafentzis

I'd like to talk to you today on a subject called: "When God doesn't make sense!" I know that sounds like a strange subject to talk about but have you ever felt that you don't always understand what God is busy doing in your life or if He is actually doing something in your life?

Are there maybe prayers that you've prayed and it seems that He's just not answering; or are you going through some things in your life right that you've begged God to change and He seems silent or are there promises from the Lord that you are standing on and nothing is happening? And it's at times like these that God doesn't seem to make sense to us - right? "Where are you God, what are you doing, do you actually care about what is going on in my life?" I wonder if you've ever felt that way? I am right there with you and so is the Apostle Paul – let me show you:

The first thing I want you to notice that a messenger of Satan was sent to torment Paul – God didn't send the messenger of Satan to Paul, Satan did. That's why I'm sure this didn't make sense to Paul, if a messenger of Satan was sent to torment him, why wouldn't God take that away from him? Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to take that away from him but God didn't – He answered Paul by saying: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' God was saying to him: "Paul I'm not going to give you what you're asking me for, but I'm going to give grace which is enough to get you through!"

Grace is God's undeserved or unmerited favour – in other words: "Paul I'm going to give you favour when you're going through the worst times and when things don't make sense to you – I'm going to give you favour to go through this!" Just like Paul we all have circumstances and situations in our lives that are there to torment us and we're asking God to get rid of them for us – but like Paul – God is telling us that His grace is sufficient to take us through them!

I really believe that this is a general principle of scripture and how the Lord works in each of our lives. For the most part, God takes us through circumstances and situations in our lives rather than take them away! There are times in our lives where God will do something instantly for us – but these are rare occasions – most of the time He takes us through!

Notice Isaiah says when you go through! He's not saying if you go through – it's a matter of when you go through! So for the most part God will take us through and His promise is: "I am with you; you will not be swept away and you will not be burnt!"

David declares that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death but God is with us! God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies – He doesn't take the enemies away – He simply prepares a table before us in their presence! In other words He gives us favour even when it seems like nothing is making sense to us!

You see if we don't go through circumstances and situations we will never learn anything – we will be like spoilt brats! The Lord wants us to grow up, He wants us to be mature believers – maturity doesn't just come by knowledge – maturity comes when you've gone through the challenges that life or the enemy has thrown your way and you respond correctly according to the Word of God!

Our Heavenly Father loves us and He promises never to leave us nor forsake us! He will walk with us through every circumstance and situation that we face in our lives! Never be afraid to walk through what you're facing right now – as you respond correctly – you will grow and mature and become all that God wants you to be in Jesus!