3 Lies About God

What is it about God that makes Him so easy to blame for things? It seems like when times are good and things just happen to be going our way it’s easy to forget God exists and that He’s somehow working things out for my good. On the flipside, it seems like when times are rough and nothing seems to be going our way it’s easy to point a finger at God and ask, “God, why are you letting this happen?” Why is that?

I don’t know. If I knew why I’d write a book. What I do know is that it happens and it happens a LOT. And I’m not pointing a finger; this is something I’ve struggled with (and still do) myself. Here are a few suggestions based on my own experience…

#1 I Don’t Need God—this isn’t true, but I sure do live like it sometimes (more than I’d like to admit). When you’ve got a job, can pay the bills, and have a little bit extra, it’s TOO EASY to fall into the trap of believing you are the provider. The reality is we are the recipients of GOD’s provision. He is the creator of all things. He is the source. It’s all because of Him and belongs to Him. We are merely entrusted with it. When times are good don’t forget to THANK God for what He’s doing, don’t merely pat yourself on the back. When you forget how much you NEED God chances are you’re about to NEED help.

#2 God Is God, But Only When I Want Him To Be—the opposite can be said of God when life kinda hits a rough patch. Maybe you’re going through some marital issues or your kid(s) are acting a bit shady. Maybe you’ve lost your job or someone’s stabbed you in a back. Maybe someone you know was recently diagnosed with some terminal illness or died in an accident. The list goes on and on of all the bad things that CAN and DO happen on a daily basis. And it seems like when our struggles get BIGGER our view of God gets SMALLER. We don’t see Him as the cosmic powerhouse who created the world and parted the waters and brought down fire and healed the sick and raised the dead… no, He’s this little god (notice it’s lowercase) who’s taken by surprise and can’t quite manage to help out. “God, how could you let this happen?” or “God, where are you?” Don’t let your circumstances shape your view of God, but let your view of God shape your circumstances. God is God regardless of how bad things get.

#3 God Is Out To Get Me—here’s where it gets kinda scary. Some of us actually believe God is this vindictive tyrant who’s out to get each and every one of us (or at least you). He WANTS you to experience pain. He WANTS you to suffer. He WANTS to punish you for something you did or didn’t do. Your view of God is shaped more by a belief in luck and karma than grace and forgiveness. God IS out to get you, but it’s not to HARM you, it’s to HELP you. He wants to GIVE you life, not TAKE it. He has something FOR you, He doesn’t want something FROM you. God wants you know what it means to truly LIVE. He wants you to experience FREEDOM and JOY. Guilt and shame are Satan’s tools. Stop blaming God for the bad choices you’ve made and start asking Him to help you through the mess you’ve created.

Reflect:

• When do you typically forget how much you need God?
• Are there times when you fail to recognize God as all-powerful?
• Have you blamed God for stuff that’s happened in your life?
• Do you believe God is in control?