Famous Fist Pump
When Tiger Woods arrived on the scene, fist-pumping was raised to new levels. You see it everywhere, and not just in sports. When I was young, it was something kids did when they were alongside an 18-wheeler on the highway, trying to get the truck driver to pull a blast on his air-horn. You would pump your fist at him, and scream “YES!” if he complied.
I can imagine that expressions of that kind of exuberance are not just limited to humans. While we don’t often picture Him that way, God has emotions, too. One of my favorite drawings is of Jesus, laughing. There are a number of versions out there. He delights in His creation, especially in His children, and He says yes to them in direct and indirect ways.
Jesus Laughing
If we were to look for some examples of His indirect affirmations we could start in Genesis 1 and the account of creation, where at each step along the way, at the end of each creative day, he proclaimed a yes. When He had concluded He said it was “very good” [Genesis 1:31 NIV]. I think that means He was pleased. Happy. Maybe exuberant, even. Kind of like a holy fist-pump. I hope it will not stretch your theology too far if I imagine that, at some level, God was admiring His creation and crying, “Yes! It is complete, finished, beautiful, best, good. I will rest; cease the labor” [Genesis 2:2]. In Hebrew that reads, shabath or shavat. God did not rest because He was tired, but rather because His work was complete and He pronounced the yes over all of it.
Just a couple of examples from Jesus might underscore this idea that God seeks to deposit yes values into our lives in all kinds of indirect ways. In John 16 we find Jesus teaching His disciples. In verses 16 through 33, He teaches in a plain manner so as to be clearly understood, and He praises the men for their belief. This is a strong yes deposit into their lives. Or, look at Luke 11:5-33. Here Jesus is again teaching His disciples of the riches of grace, and the depth of God’s love for them; building God’s yes in them.
So, what more can be said, to highlight the power of the word yes? At least three things.
First, it is within the character of God to affirm us and our petitions, while teaching us more about His ways. You may be saying, “but Bill, I asked God for [fill in the blank] and it did not come about.” That can be hard. We tend to want our answers right away, and consistent with how we view the best possible outcome. Our focus is here and now. His focus is eternal. We often need a vision correction in order to see more clearly, and so God takes us through difficult times.
One of the most popular books of recent years is Rick Warren’s volume called, The Purpose Driven Life, where the very first chapter starts out, “It’s not about you…you were born by his purpose and for his purpose.” While we may understand that, intellectually, we still long for deliverance from the problems of our lives.
Relax, there is nothing wrong with that. That’s the second thought to consider. Asking in faith is a good thing and something we are exhorted to do (see the John 16 passage, and also Matthew 7:7-8 and Philippians 4:6-7). Don’t ever stop asking God for help with your needs – that kind of prayer relationship is a part of the vision repair process that helps you to think eternally. Joseph Stowell is the author of a book called, Eternity: Reclaiming a Passion for What Endures. He says, “When eternity is off the screen, all of life is compressed into the distorted assumption that this is all we have…We are built for eternal, unhindered relationship with God, who created us to know the deep pleasure of His companionship.”
So, finally, it is not a failure of faith if we do not receive our healing, or our deliverance, within our expected time frame, or even if answers do not come by the time that eternity pulls into view. It is not so much about your measure of faith as it is about God’s plan for the ages, and your part in it. He is listening for you and watching over you. Are you doing the same with Him? Are you seeking to hear Him and to know Him? Are you ready to partner with Him?
We’ll tackle that in future articles. Meanwhile, go out and make some yes deposits into the lives of others.
Strength and Honor
Bill
