DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL - You Need God’s Presence, Not His Explanation

You Need God’s Presence, Not His Explanation

BY RICK WARREN — DECEMBER 14, 2016

“Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7a GW).

One of the reasons people struggle with contentment is because we’re always looking for explanations for why things happen in our lives. It ticks us off that God doesn’t offer us explanations. So why doesn’t he?

Because he’s testing you. He’s testing you to see if you will let go of control and learn to be content, whether he explains it or not.

God doesn’t owe you an explanation for anything, and you wouldn’t understand it even if he gave it.

But even if you did get an explanation, it still wouldn’t take away the pain. You’re not going to know why most things happen until you get on the other side of death.

God isn’t going to give you an explanation. But he will test you.

I remember when I was a little kid, the only time our classroom in school was quiet was during a test. The teacher would say, “No talking! Take your pencils, and fill out your tests.” Even the teacher would be silent.

When God is silent in your life, you’re going through a test. When you don’t hear God and he feels like a million miles away, that is a test! The teacher is always silent when the students take a test. When God is silent in your life, your faith is being tested. Will you let go of control, or will you grab on more tightly? Will you learn to be content?

When you’re going through pain this next week or next month or this year, you don’t really need God’s explanation. You need God’s presence.

“Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7a GW).

Talk It Over

• What are you angry with God about that you don’t want to admit?
• In what way is God testing you right now? How will you respond?
• What do you think God wants you to do while you wait patiently for him?