When the Kosmos Holds its Breath
Sometimes the kosmos just holds it breath. The answers that we have been seeking seem to hang just out of reach, and while we know they are coming, it almost seems like the world is in spiritual slow motion. That is a normal part of our faith journey, but sometimes something else is going on.
Having a strong pedigree of teaching has helped me to understand spiritual warfare, and because of the privilege of sitting under the teaching of Jack Hayford while at Life Pacific College, and before that with Dennis Easter while working in a SoCal church under his leadership, I understand that there are seasons of our life when the spiritual battle around our lives and ministries seems more intense, or at least more obvious. Today is one of those days for me.
The clues don’t always come from a big thing. Today, it was the bank teller dropping a zero off my deposit putting things way out of wack until they went back to do their math. It was one of those moments when I became aware that the spiritual battle was on. I realized that the enemy was overplaying his hand. And thanks to that teller error, my spiritual antennas went up (that’s slang for becoming spiritually alert) so that I would understand what was happening. While I don’t go in for the magical version of Spiritual Warfare teaching, and think that our prayer should always be directed “to God,” I have lived long enough in Christ to know that it is a real fact of our existence, and that there are times when I need to pay special attention.
The pressure of waiting for God’s response leads me to wonder if all the assurances that I have found in prayer, in the scripture and through the encouragement of others have been wrong? Is God on vacation, like so many others around us?
A passage in the book of Daniel illuminates this spiritual experience (NIV)
Daniel 10:12 “Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.”
This passage holds some important encouragement for me, and I hope for you too. The first instruction is that we are not to be afraid. Fear after all is one of the key tools of evil. If we can be moved into a position of terror, we are immobile, neutralized.
The greatest fear is addressed by the very next part of this passage– the fear that God, the one that we entrust our lives to, hasn’t heard or responded. Daniel is told that from the very first day that he began to seek understanding and humble himself, the answer was dispatched. Why do we always assume that either something is wrong with us, or something is wrong with God? Jesus clearly taught that a good father responds to the requests of his children (Luke 11:5-13), and such a father we have; he is our “abba” (Romans 8:15).
So I need to remember and trust, and perhaps you do as well, that when we do as Daniel did, humble ourselves and seek Him, he answers. Why the delay? No, I don’t think it is always the devil. Sometimes I think it is a wise father making sure that I get what I really need instead of what I ask for, and other times, I think that people who have been entrusted with answers and resources go slow when I need them to go fast.
But sometimes…there is something else at work, resisting the answers that I seek. The Daniel passage pulls back the spiritual curtain so that we can see conflict in the spiritual world that involves our prayers. Why does God allow this? Bigger question that I can tackle in this blog. Why do I need to know this? Because I need encouragement not to doubt that God is an answerer of prayers, and that I matter to Him.
It is good to ask if we have really sought him like Daniel, humbly and open to his direction. If you aren’t sure, then take this moment or this day to make that a priority. Do a Daniel fast (lay off the fancy food) if this is something important. We don’t get answers, if we don’t ask.
I have a suspicion that a few others who are engaged in missions work, church planting and faith adventures feel like the Kosmos is holding its breath, too. You have asked diligently, and need this is a time for resources and answers and wisdom to be both dispatched and received. We all need to remember that the answer has been dispatched, and that our task is to leave that battle the Lord and His hosts and return to fervent prayer.
If you are at that place in your journey, reply to this blog and I will join you in your prayer for the message or resource to arrive at your place. I invite you to join me in that prayer, too. Remember, we aren’t waiting for the postman, we are trusting someone who is much bigger and even more faithful. In His case, neither rain, nor snow, nor demonic horde will keep him from his appointed task.