We Felt Called, We Followed, We Failed. Did God Fail Too?
Have you ever followed a calling from God and been led to a place you didn't anticipate? Were you ever hopeful for a certain result only to find that the opposite occurred?
Me too.
Did it cause you to question the call? Did you falter and doubt when things didn't turn out as you expected?
Imagine for a moment that on a day not far from this one, you wake from an awkward slump in an uncomfortable bucket chair next to the hospital bed of your husband who has been laying in a coma, the prognosis grim. A great commotion is running throughout the building and nurses are bending over the bed, trying to make sense of the reading on the monitor. And there before your eyes, is your husband, sitting up, vibrant, tubes yanked out of his mouth and arms, and the color of his skin more lively than ever before.
And then you see them. The people, dressed in dingy gowns, walking the halls, doctors rushing to and fro bewildered.
God has done a miraculous healing. Of everyone. Everywhere.
Finally, the church reasons, God has shown Himself as Almighty to the whole world and word spreads like wildfire about the goodness of God and His indisputable power. Pastors and church laborers prepare for the massive flood of people who will enter church doors and Christians rejoice that many will surely believe in Jesus Christ as a result of this miracle.
Why has God decided not to show Himself in this grand way? I always imagined that if God would perform some incredible global miracle, that many would believe.
Except there is one big problem with this reasoning. Mark M. Yarbrough lays it out plainly in his article, When God Doesn't Heal, from Christianity Today:
“Yes, from our vantage point, we might think that God's miraculous intervention would produce waves of affirmation to his authority. Yet, in reply to the "rich man," Jesus said, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead" (Luke 16:31).”
Yarbrough goes on to explain the nature of faith-that foundational belief that requires trust in what we do not see:
“Instead, the nature of our faith is to be "certain of what we do not see" (Heb. 11:1). While the world looks for proof in signs and wonders, we should never forget that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). It is in this power that he asks us to trust in him.”
This truth applies beyond physical healing. It's true for every circumstance of our lives.
My husband and I are committed to making Films and TV shows that honor God and inspire people.
You may have noticed today that the Kickstarter Campaign that my husband and I have been running for the last 30 days is about to end, and in a financial way, it will most likely be unsuccessful.
Our hope was that by raising these funds, we get a jumpstart on beginning the making of this film that tells the true story of Tricia Goyer and Kristen Jane Anderson's book, Life, In Spite Of Me. Kristen attempted suicide as a teenager by jumping in front of a train, but God miraculously saved her life and then revealed Himself to her as Savior of her soul as well.We knew this approach was unconventional, but we also felt it was worth the risk.
Why wouldn't God allow us to get this message of hope to the staggering number of people who are suffering from depression and hopelessness?
As we ran the campaign, we heard from many who had lost loved ones to suicide even during the last 30 days. We know the book and Kristen's ministry reaches many whose lives have been saved and a film would spread the message on an even grander and larger global scale.
Isn't that what God would want?
We asked for 3,333 people to donate 30 dollars or more over 30 days. We actually had less than 170 donors as of the writing of this post!
Guy and I alone have more than 3,333 friends on our personal Facebook Pages. Why wouldn't God nudge more hearts to support us? Who wouldn't want to see more faith-based films in Hollywood? Why wouldn't God take advantage of an amazing opportunity like this one to cast a massive light in the darkness of our world?
Have we failed? Did God fail?
No, we haven't. No, God didn't.
It boils down to the truth that God is Sovereign and that His ways are not our ways. And His timing is not our timing. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we followed in His steps through this process. We believe wholeheartedly in this message of hope and the potential it has to change lives. And we will continue to see it through so long as God tells us to keep pursuing it-which we believe He is still prompting us to do. It may not happen in our ideal timeframe, but we see the good it has already done in the lives of thousands who have watched the movie trailer and been blessed by this effort.
God doesn't always heal. He doesn't always make results crystal clear when we follow the path He sets before us. God doesn't even focus on the results of our efforts. He is passionate about us as His children. He is committed to molding our hearts and testing our faith. And He knows the ones who needed to hear that depression is not forever and taking your life is not the answer to ending pain. It may be just one that all this effort was meant for. One person may have been given hope.
And for you, that one person, it was worth it. It will always be worth it.
Not all who see even a young girl like Kristen Jane Anderson's miraculous rescue at the hand of God, being “raised from the dead” both physically and spiritually, will believe the display of God's power and authenticity. Many saw Jesus perform miracles, heard the message from His very lips, and turned away. Many were angry and rejected the Healer. Mankind has not changed. Regardless of the breadth of the message or the medium of the platform, God remains an intimate and personal God. He will use His ways to reach the lost, heal the sick, and spread the gospel.
And we will be here, still. Ready to follow and releasing the end results because we know Whom we believe and that His ways never fail.
YOUR TURN! How has God taught you that His ways are not our ways? Has Kristen's message impacted your own life?
Make a difference and help us change the culture in Hollywood. We are making a feature film based on the true story of Kristen Jane Anderson's failed suicide attempt and how God redeemed her life for good. It's a message of hope for the hurting and for those who love them. Watch, and please, consider giving!
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory. Psalm 115:1
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