Looking for Answers

Photo by Martin Linkov

It’s hard to get our minds off the tragedy in Newtown. Evil has invaded our backyard and we are trying to pick up the pieces and figure out what to do now.

Fixing the problems we face is complex. Smarter people than me can figure out all of the issues and solutions. We can look at all of these things, but when are we going to get to the point where we throw up our hands and cry out, “Lord, we need You. You are the only One who can fix the mess we are in.”

In 2 Chronicles 20, we read of Judah facing a threat from a vast army. King Jehoshaphat’s response guides us. He didn’t gather the generals together to come up with answers. He brought all the people together to pray. Why? He knew this sort of problem could not be solved with human answers. It could only be answered by God. And yes God answered—boy did He ever!

Similarly, when Moses and the Israelites were up against the Red Sea and the Egyptians were coming, he didn’t gather the best and brightest for answers. He turned to God and waited for His answer. Only after receiving that answer did they move forward. No one could have ever guessed the answer would be to walk through the sea.

My point is simply this: the problems we face are God-sized problems. And to fix God-sized problems we need God-size answers.

There is only one way to seek those God-size answers.

The answers will not come even when we get the best and brightest holy minds in the room and ask them to come up with answers. Their answers will only turn us further away, because we would be working out of our own strength. Right now, we don’t need human thinking. We need a Savior.

Our God-size answers will come only when we are on our knees seeking Him. And it can’t be a quick prayer and let’s get to work. It will have to be holy wrestling and waiting. For only God can fix this problem.

Now is the time for us to stop thinking of answers and start being the answer. We need to pray and seek Him. I believe if we pray first, then wait for God, we will get answers that we never knew existed. Even more than that, God will miraculously open up the Red Sea.

We have God-sized problems. We need God-sized answers.