So I didn't plan on writing about this but here goes nothin'. I had a really interesting conversation the other day with Pastor Charles. He was talking about the differences between the way that westerners view God and the way that Africans do. In America, the general population seems to really resonate with God's love. The first thing an American will tell someone when talking about Christ is how much He loves them and what He did for them. That is not the same with Africans. Don't get me wrong, they love their Father's love, it's just not what they so longingly crave from Him. What they crave is His provision. They don't see God as The Lover, they see Him as The Provider. Granted, God is both of these things, but it's the differences in cultures that mold our perceptions of Him. I actually think they may have the upper hand in this one. The way I see it, we have everything we need when it comes to materials. We have everything we need and more and yet look at how we treat one another. Look at our marriages and our relationships and how selfish we are. The people here have close to nothing and yet they have love. They are each other's families and they treat each other the way that Christ tells us to treat one another. Their joy and love for others overflow despite the fact that their circumstances are worse than many of us will ever have to understand. If that doesn't bring glory to God than I don't know what does. I don't know what it's like to have to depend on God for the things that I need to survive. I have no idea what it's like to not be able to eat every meal because I can't afford it. I don't know what it's like to have to sleep on the floor every night and wear the same clothes every day. How much stronger would my trust and dependence on Him be if that were the case?
This past week we had crusades and a service after. I happened to be sick this week (don't worry I'm completely healed) so I only attended the last one. The sermon was called "What if" and was from Habbakuk. Chapter 3 verses 17 & 18 say "though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls – yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Habbakuk writes about how there seems to be no provision from God, and yet he still chooses to rejoice in the Lord. Pastor Charles asked us questions starting in "what if" and ending in.."would you still rejoice in the Lord". This really got me thinking about expectations. How many of us would love to change circumstances or relationships we may have? (Mind you, I'm not really talking about the little things. I'm talking about the BIG stuff, the stuff in your life that really seems to suck) How many of us pray about the same thing over and over again waiting for Him to do exactly what we have asked Him to do and get frustrated or discouraged when it doesn't happen? Well, what if He doesn't give you what you want? What if what you have been praying for and longing for never happens? What if He chooses to say no? How will you respond?
