Be Honest With God

“Early the next morning Abraham got up and …. he set out for the place God had told him about.” (Alright God.)

(Genesis 22:3 NIV)

While listening to one of my favorite cd’s sometime ago, I was challenged about the way I respond to God in the midst of the circumstances He allows to come my way. The album begins with a story of a grandmother being awaken at 2am by her daughter and a boyfriend who wants to drop her baby off in order to go away. The grandmother, tired and frustrated, asks her daughter why she continues to do these irresponsible things while the daughter pleads and assures her that this will be the last time. For the next moments you hear the daughter yelling, the baby crying, the boyfriend blowing the car horn, yelling, “hurry up”. Then through the noise and confusion you hear the grandmother’s voice, “alright, Lord, alright.” Then she says to her daughter, “give me the baby”. The result of that response today is a young man who is influencing the world for God.

So often the circumstances in life come in such huge proportions that it’s easy to be blinded by the weight of the hurt, disappointment, sorrow and pain. The Lord has challenged me to try something. It’s a pattern of belief that we see throughout Scripture from men and women of God who were honest with their fear, but realized that God is greater; who were unsure of their future, but confident in their God.

As we read about Queen Esther being challenged to go before the king, risking death, I hear her say, “alright, Lord.” As Stephen knelt down receiving blows from the rocks, as Paul’s body was weighed down by the shackles, as John sat alone before being beheaded, as David rose from his son’s death bed, as Jesus stood up in the garden and faced his captors, and began His walk to the cross, I hear them all say, “alright, God”.
This week, as you and I face life, the good, bad and the ugly of life, let’s try something. Let’s be honest with God about how we are feeling and then as He reveals His answer through His word, His still small voice, and/or through our circumstances, let’s say with confidence in a Sovereign and loving Father, “alright, Lord” and begin walking…early.

With you on the journey, MJ