In honor of the 4th of July, I have one little piece of advice. Don’t miss out on the sparklers looking for the fireworks!
I love sparklers. I think they are so much fun. Don’t get me wrong, fireworks are awesome… they are big, loud, bright, and can be seen by many, even from far away. Sparklers, however, are small. They are much more for the individual and/or a close few of spectators standing close. And, recently, God helped me understand something about Himself… that He loves both, fireworks and sparklers… and He wanted me to do the same. Sadly, He pointed out that I too often miss out on all the sparklers because I am looking for the fireworks. This often leads me to unwarranted disappointment.
I have come to learn that my disappointments are based on my irrational expectations of who I think God is, how He acts, and/or what I think God “shouldâ€� do. Often, I find all these ideas wrapped up in a desire for God to “show upâ€�. I find that these two words hold so much of my assumption. Now, hear me out… I know God is a BIG God, who can accomplish infinitely more than we could ever dare to ask or hope (Eph. 3:20). I know God is a BIG God who wants us to know His nature and expect Him to do what He promises in His word… healing, freedom, forgiveness, salvation, power, etc. I know God is a BIG God who wants us reverence Him as the Creature of the Universe, a Star Breather (Psalm 33:6). I know God is a Firework! My intention here is not to “lessenâ€� who God is or what He does… not to make Him “smallerâ€�… just to explain that God is not only a Firework, but He is also a Sparkler.
I have noticed something about myself over the course of this trip. Anytime someone preached, anytime I preached, or laid hands and prayed for healing… anytime we were sharing our faith with an unbeliever… when people would rush to alter to be saved and/or the inflicted were healed and set free – I would always praise God for “showing upâ€�. On the other occasions where it seemed that nothing happened… the Word landed on deaf ears, the sick stayed sick, no one was accepting salvation… I would find myself disappointed; crying out, “God, I don’t understand, where are you? Why didn’t you “show upâ€�?â€�
If someone brought me cake, ice cream, and a present on my birthday and said we it was a birthday party would i question it? Would I say, “Well, I’m not sure this a party – I’m not sure we can call this a party compared to… well… let’s say Mardi Gras.â€� I can not be disappointed in the times were I didn’t think God “showed upâ€� because I was expecting the Azusa Street Revival. God said where 2 or more are gathered that He is there (Matt. 18:20). I don’t think God wants me to question whether or not He “showed upâ€� based on my expectations and comparisons.
I ran across a verse the other day that started this whole thing:
Then Jacob woke up and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it.â€� – Genesis 28:16
Wow, this is totally me. God is NOT a God of disappointment. I need to WAKE UP! How many times has God totally been there… showing up… hanging out… handing out sparklers… and I wasn’t even aware of it because I was too busy looking for fireworks.
