Courtney Gilmore “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them.” (Exodus 8:15) Pharaoh begged for relief, but when it came, he did not keep the promises that he made. I realize that Pharaoh probably never intended to keep his promise. He just said what he had to in the moment to make the plague of frogs go away. But are we completely innocent regarding our promises in difficult times?
Have you ever made promises to God when your circumstances were difficult, only to forget them after your situation improved? Did you think your situation was extreme enough that you were willing to say anything just to make it stop, only later to think maybe it might not require such drastic measures? Have you ever been so relieved that the bad part was over, that you forgot who gave you rest from it?
Most likely all of us have done something similar before. But consider that God sometimes gives us difficult circumstances just so we will depend on Him. If during those times, we learn dependence, then our difficulties have not been suffered in vain. But, if we turn our back on that dependence as soon as everything is better, then we have forgotten the whole lesson.
James 1:22-25 says, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in the mirror. He observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” We have to be very careful not to forget what kind of person we were during our trials, and continue to walk with God when relief comes. Otherwise we are only proving that the only way God can draw us near, is through trials.
In Psalm 32:8-11 God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous. Shout for joy, all you upright in heart.” We do not want to be stubborn like the mule, only going to God in our struggles. If that is the only time we call on Him, then He will have to pull us to Him by force, just as we do with animals requiring a harness. That force may be in the form of struggles that pull us back to Him.
We must be mindful to remain dependent on Him in the good times as well as the bad. Praise Him always & remember He is Lord. “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me. Bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Psalm 103:1-2
Excerpt from Episode 53 “In Good Times and Bad” on YouTube and Podcast
