To understand how the Lord answers prayers and intervenes in the affairs of believers must not be misconstrued. It’s time to know why God is not a genie to fulfill your wishes and crazy fantasies.
Living for Christ Jesus doesn’t exempt you from going through difficult situations. Understanding how He loves and cares for us begins by sacrificing everything we have for Him. May all Christians acknowledge the simple truth that God is not a genie to fulfill their wishes or wishful thinking.
This is an article I wrote in my news blog but here I’ve decided to repurpose it. I believe you would be enlightened enough to understand the God who created heaven and earth. Knowing and understanding that God is not a genie will let you stay calm and faithful to the Lord even if things are really bad.
Many Christians are anxious about their future and how to live happily. Do not try to seek help from magicians, fortune tellers, and such like; That is an abomination unto the Lord.
Impatience is drawing many away from the faith and love of God. To crave immediate gratification without the Lord’s guidance has awful consequences.
The Lord we serve is not a genie to grant you your wishes. This is something big that baffles atheists and skeptics. If you are a believer, be real and know how to face reality.
Again, bear in mind that your struggles and discomfort in painful situations could be a divine plan of the Lord taking you through the fire of affliction to refine you like silver and gold. You must go through tests and trials of all sorts as a follower of Jesus. In the end, you will shout for joy… Christianity isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Understanding What A Genie Is
Before I go any further, let’s find out; What is a genie?
By definition:
“A spirit of Arabian folklore, as depicted traditionally imprisoned within a bottle or oil lamp, and capable of granting wishes when summoned.”
Something like that thing in Alladin lamp.
That is it!, now I believe I have your full attention to what a genie is. I don’t think —in your right conscious as a child of God will seek help from a thing like this.
Look, you are a child of the most High God.
By definition:
1. (in Christianity and other monotheistic religions) the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being.
2. (in certain other religions) a superhuman being or spirit worshipped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity.
The unbeliever will scornfully say there are hundreds to thousands of gods around the world and question — which one are you talking about?
I am talking about the #1 in the definition above. The Creator of heaven and earth, the Supreme ruler called Yahweh — the Promise Keeper. You may check out some of His promises for your life in Psalms 91:14 – 16.
God is Omnipotent and able to do everything. Child of God, what kind of problem are you going through that He cannot help you? Where is your faith? Is it sleeping? I’m here to help you wake it up.
Christians should live by faith not by sight as stated in the Bible.
Our Blindspot As Christians
Often a Christian will lament about how things are falling apart in his life and begin to look hopeless. The real problem is about failing to recognize the kind of God we serve.
Anxiousness will blindfold you. You will not see the beauty of His amazing plan for your life. You may keep on complaining, “I need this, I need that, things are very bad, I don’t think I will be happy again, I’m done, and blah blah blah…”
Do you think God is a genie that fulfills people’s wishes? Oh no! He knows how, when, and where to help you. His timing and “will” will always be done on earth.
If you fail to seek the things you need in life according to God’s will —you will fail and live your whole life thinking God doesn’t love you or has abandoned you.
A Lesson From The Bible To Help You Stay Faithful
The God we serve never changes. His promises are trustworthy. You have his promise. Just trust without having divided loyalty.
God told Jeremiah:
“Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
He knows everyone before he comes to this world. God’s will for us is good and perfect.
An all-knowing God is saying to you today that He knew you before you were born. He knows your future. It’s a beautiful plan. But if you fail to be obedient —you may fall into the hands of the Devil.
God loves people who listen to His word and obey. He listens to the prayer of the righteous.
Abraham stayed faithful to God, Jacob, David and many other Bible characters who stayed faithful to God reaped many fruits of blessings.
Understanding God And His Ways
I once read from a Christian preacher who said, the only prayer God answers immediately is “a prayer of repentance.” Taking a good look at this eye-opening message I agreed to it.
You see, God delights in saving lost souls. His grace and mercy abound for anyone who repents and accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior. Yes, the genuine prayer of repentance of the vilest sinner would be heard in heaven.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)
That’s very true. His thoughts are good and perfect for all His children. If you believe God thinks good about you —then why don’t you keep on trusting Him —even if you can’t see the way forward?
No genie or magician can help you better than the Creator of heaven and earth. He is the eternal Father who loves to give heavenly blessings to His children. You, therefore, ought to stay faithful irrespective of your problem or circumstance.
Trust Must Go With Patience
It’s very challenging when you are in dire need of something but no one shows up to help.
Many have left the faith because of such kinds of situations. It’s a relationship we are having with God. Why would you betray Him and commit adultery with a genie or other gods?
King David said:
“I look up toward the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth!” (Psalms 121:1 – 2)
King David faced many challenges;
more than you can ever think of. He never lost trust in God. David patiently waited for the Lord to respond to him at the right time.
So stay patient, and trust God in all your tribulations. At the right time, God will answer your prayers with no strings attached.
All you can do is keep on praying (knocking). Stay faithful and maintain your patience; Apostle Paul calls it “long-suffering.”
Endurance is one of the characteristics of a good Christian. Even in bad times —rejoice and praise the Lord because He never fails.
NB: Don’t feel disappointed if your prayers haven’t been answered yet. God doesn’t work like a genie to grant you your wish.
After all, you have the greatest gift made available to you. And this gift I’m talking about is “Salvation” through our Lord Jesus Christ. We are just travelers on earth —heaven is our eternal home void of problems and anything evil.
“But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20)
Christians should trust God and have patience for His perfect time. He doesn’t work like a genie granting people’s wishes. But according to His will.
Stay blessed!