When God doesn't do what you want

View of our front door. I love the beautiful flowers that greet me!

Welcome back to Bogota! Or at least that's how I am feeling right now. It's so good to be back, however I feel like I have hit the ground running. School starts tomorrow with new teacher orientation and it's been a blast getting to know our new staff and showing them around.

However, as we begin, life has also been a little scary. We are less than two weeks away from having kiddos walk in the door and we still have many teaching spots left open. Our director has been working hard, writing emails, calling and banging on any doors that might work. But, it seems as if God is not answering.

Today in church the pastor must have read my mind and my preoccupations. He preached from Habakkuk (side note: how do you say Habakkuk?). The first few verses of the first chapter highlight the prophet Habbakuk's call out to the Lord, begging His presence to be known.

Then God responds in verse 5: "Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told" (ESV).

I was fairly optimistic while he started his sermon expecting the "all things work together for good" outcome, highlighting a loving and caring God.

But as the verses continue, God declares the horrors he is going to allow. The rise of the Chaldeans described as "bitter" "fearsome" "violent" "declaring their own might as their god".

So....... "you would not believe" is not referring to the good things to come. Rather it is in reference to the bad things to come. Like really bad. Like taken captive and made slaves bad.

As the pastor expanded into the passage he didn't try to gloss over the challenges and the truth: God does allow and enables bad things to happen.

Right now in life is seems as if God is not making things easy. We are missing teachers and challenging situations have led to many last minute plans falling through. Now the question is how do I respond? Do I get angry? Do I doubt God's plan? Do I walk away?

I can. It's all normal human reaction, however at this moment I am telling myself "God is sovereign" "God knows what He is doing" "God's plans are bigger than my own". Mark tells us about a father went to Jesus asking for his son to be healed. Jesus replied “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24).

That is my prayer... help my unbelief. I don't have control of the circumstances; but I believe God does. Whether it is staffing for the school year or the elections in the USA or family struggles or really anything. I believe God is in control. It may not seem good at the time but it is good because God is good and He is in control on this earth.