father and childby Matt Clark

You can tell a lot about a person by how they respond to certain situations. Let me give you a couple to think about.

How would you respond…
…if someone cut you off in traffic?
…if someone physically assaulted you?
…if someone gave you a great gift for your birthday?

I remember a time in high school when our teacher had everyone in the class walk out to the parking lot. When we got outside, the father of one of my classmates came driving around the corner in a brand new, blue, sports car. It had a bow on top with balloons attached to the roof. Everyone, including me, was jealous that this girl was going to be driving such a nice ride. When the dad got out of the car, he said to his daughter, “Happy birthday baby. What do you think of your present?” I will never forget her answer;

“I asked for the red one. You know I hate the color blue.”

The entire class stood in awe. How could this girl respond this way? Obviously, my reaction would have been a lot different. I would have been jumping around like a madman filled with excitement.

Again, a response can tell you a lot about a person.

A response can also show how you feel about someone else.

If your father promised that he would pick you up tomorrow and take you out to see a movie, how would you respond? In my case, I would look forward to it knowing that my dad would keep his promise. Over my lifetime, my father has proven that he can be trusted. However, I have met many people who would not be so enthusiastic. There are fathers out there who break their promises often. Many children have no reason to trust their dads because they continually let them down. A negative response to this “movie night” promise tells us a lot about both the child and the father.

What does this have to do with the Christian?

Here it is: How you respond to God shows what you think of God.

God promises a lot of things in scripture which is not always easy to believe. However, if you trust God, you will trust His promises. It is easy to doubt God’s promises when you forget how He has already blessed you before.

REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE

David has finally become King over all of Israel. Imagine the pressure that comes with this job. Imagine what it is like to have enemies constantly trying to destroy you.

God wanted David to know that He would always be with him. Look at the promise God made to David below:

2 Samuel 7:8-11
8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince[a] over my people Israel.

9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.

10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,

11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

God began His promise to David by reminding him of all the things He had already done.
– He took David out of the pasture where he followed sheep. (v 8)
– He made him prince over Israel. (v 8)
– He was with David wherever he went. (v 9)
– He cut off all the enemies that stood before him. (v 9)

David didn’t have to look hard for a reason to trust God. God had proven Himself time and time again. In verses 10 and 11, God made a promise to David. How David responded shows us how he viewed God; with complete trust and confidence.

When you are struggling believing that God is there, take a moment and remind yourself of all the ways you have been blessed. Remind yourself of all the times that God has been present in your life. This has not changed, even though it may appear that way. This is the devil trying to trick you into believing that God has abandoned you. Resist these thoughts.

We have no reason to doubt God. God always keeps His promises.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6