God Can Do Anything … But …

By Wayne Harmon

It was one of those difficult times in life. The kind that all of us face from time to time. I was talking to a pastor about my struggles when he asked me if I trusted God. I said, “I know God can do anything, but I don’t believe He will do much for me.”

“Oh, my!” the pastor exclaimed, “You can’t think that!”

Ha! What did he mean, “You can’t think that!”? He was the one of the men who had told me that!

Was this guy for real?

I had been churches my whole life. I dutifully sat in the church services and was told I needed to do more to see God’s blessings.

I needed to be in church for every service. So I was there for Sunday School, the Sunday morning service, the Sunday evening service, and for Wednesday night “prayer meeting” (I don’t remember there being much prayer).

I needed to tithe, so I tithed.

I needed to give more than just a tithe, a tenth. After all the Bible speaks of tithes AND offerings. So I gave more.

I needed to read my Bible more. So I read my Bible daily. I used a reading schedule so I could read through the Bible at least once a year. Then I read it every six months. On more than one occasion I read the entire Bible in a month.

I needed to pray more. So I made a “prayer list” and spent time daily asking God to “give me that”, “fix this,” and “change them”.

I needed to “witness” more, so I participated in the weekly “soul winning outreach” programs held by our church.

I needed to become more involved in the work of the church. So I began teaching Sunday School and weekly “Adult Education” classes.

Every time the pastor said I needed to do more, I did more. And yet, it was never enough.

That meeting with that pastor was indeed one of God’s blessings. At that moment I realized that God’s blessings aren’t earned. He freed me from the pressure of always needing to do more.

He is my Father.

He loves me.

He sees the differences between needs and wants,

Especially when I can’t.

Copyright 2014: Wayne Harmon