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Sweet friend, I want to share the ultimate reason why you do not test God! I can say with absolute certainty that you don’t ever want to tempt God! You WILL lose! If you’ve read my personal testimony you are aware I lost my first grandchild Tyler at 4 1/2 months old.
When I lost Tyler instead of turning towards God to get me through that time I wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. If God was brought up around me I would tune the conversation out or changed the subject completely.
Please keep in mind that I wasn’t living a Christian lifestyle at this particular time in my life and had turned away from God, for many reasons. But God showed me some important lessons and I want to share them with you!
BE SURE TO PIN ME FOR LATER
The Ultimate Reason You Do Not Test God
While in the midst of my wounded broken heart I challenged God’s wisdom and put God to the test for taking my precious little baby boy! I wish I could go back and tell myself…Angie, you do not put the Lord your God to the test!
I have come to terms with it now but it was a very long lonely road to be able to speak those words and really mean them from the depths of my heart.
WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY You Do Not Test God or Tempt God?
And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Luke 4:12
What does it mean to Tempt God?
What exactly is tempting the Lord your God?
In my case particularly I questioned God’s reasoning for giving us such a precious gift to just snatch him away as quickly as he gave him to us. I hate putting my exact words but I want transparency to help others.
Don’t Tempt God
As crazy as it sounds I dared God to take my life, even though I turned my back on him and knew where I’d be going if he had done so. I was so full of anger and bitterness over losing Tyler that quite honestly I wasn’t thinking or maybe I just didn’t care. OUCH! Do not tempt the Lord your God to the test!
Do Not Test God for he has an Eternal Perspective and Plan
See Y’all, God can do whatever he chooses to and he doesn’t have to explain to me his reasons behind them. I can only see in the here and now whereas God sees from an eternal perspective and he uses people and circumstances to draw others to himself.
I have Tyler’s photo in my lab bay at work and he’s changing the hearts of people I come into contact with every day by sharing his story. It’s usually done with tears shed but that’s a good thing.
They’ll ask me, “How do you survive the loss of a baby?”
I reply with ONE word…God! Then I have to swallow my pride.
I Explain How I Tempt God
Do not put God to the test as I did. I tell them the whole truth. I admit my moments of outbursts in shaking my fists towards Heaven and screaming at God, “WHY” did you give Tyler to us, to snatch him away! Why didn’t you take “ME” instead!
The one thing I regret the most was testing God’s wisdom with my venomous speech…..”HOW COULD YOU!” “HOW DARE YOU!”
I realize now that wasn’t the wisest words to proceed from my mouth because I should NEVER Tempt God like that in the first place! I by no means say or do things perfectly but I do NOT disrespect God in that manner anymore and I have a healthy fear of him now.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
DON’T TEMPT GOD
I had a conversation lately that made my outbursts look and sound like child play. To be honest it made me cringe.
I do my best NOT to react badly because I don’t want to bring dishonor to God. That being said I’m sure my facial expression showed my surprise at their words.
I want to share a small portion of that conversation with you. I’m very open in my relationship with Jesus Christ to those around me. As I was interacting with a particular individual I could tell they’ve been struggling lately and a war was raging in their heart and soul.
As we began to talk it was very obvious that they were FURIOUS with God! This is stating it rather mildly but you get the point. This individual not only has been battling health issues themselves but their spouse has also. Both were terminal.
It’s hard enough going through health issues yourself but being a full-time caregiver for your spouse would make it even more difficult. Watching your loved one you’ve been married to for decades waste away in front of you would be considered downright cruel.
BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST
If you are a born-again follower of Jesus Christ looking at this scenario would at least give you hope and someone to lean on to see you through it.
The Christian life is not a comfortable life, but it is a fulfilling one.
I’m NOT saying that it would make it easy because it would NOT! However, God is more than willing to carry your burdens.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? Hebrews 12:7
A NONBELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST
If you are a non-believer of Jesus Christ looking at this scenario in my eyes would give you NO HOPE WHATSOEVER! You’ll be trying to handle the situations in your own strength and you’ll find out rather quickly how exhausting it can be.
Y’all, I know what it’s like to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. I know what it is like to tempt God. Trust me, the load will be much easier to surrender it to the one who is more than capable of carrying it and that person is Jesus Christ.
ALLOW GOD TO CARRY YOU TODAY
And in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place. Deuteronomy 1:31
As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings. Deuteronomy 32:11
Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry and will deliver you. Isaiah 46:4
Satan tempted God and lost…WE will also!!
Do not test the lord…You will lose
Not the response I was looking for. I’d give anything to tell you that I’m making headway in this. Sadly, it’s the opposite reaction. I told them you trust me, you do not test God!
Every time I try to get this individual to see they don’t have to carry this alone it’s like hitting a brick wall. I can see the blinders covering their eyes and my words are hitting deaf ears.
It’s disappointing, to say the least, and they are so incredibly angry and full of bitterness and I keep on challenging them to give it to God and do not test God repeatedly like this.
Try reasoning when others tempt God
My Response:
“You know with my faith how strongly I believe that if you turn to God he will help strengthen you in times such as these.”
Their Response:
“That’s one thing I admire about you not wavering in your beliefs in your relationship with God. You stand firm and unmoving! However, God’s not for me!”
It’s Dangerous to Tempt God
Their Response:
Angie, how can a loving God allow so much pain and heartache, Why would God make one suffer so?
My Response:
We live in a fallen world where bad things happen. It started with the fall in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and will continue till either God returns or we face our eternity.
Let’s just say my response wasn’t one they wanted to hear. Nonetheless, it doesn’t make it less true. Y’all, what happened next just about brought me to tears.
Do not test God: Downward Spiral
This person challenged God to “bring it on!” Is that ALL you got you _____!! I will NOT use the word they said.
In my situation even though I was angry that God took Tyler from us so soon I would NEVER EVER curse God and dare him to bring more sickness upon me!
Walking on dangerous ground: Do not test God in this way:
One thing I can NOT take is someone taking God’s name in vain. I hate it! It’s like someone raking their nails down a chalkboard. It makes me Crazy! Be careful what you wish for Friends cause it may very well happen!
The Ultimate Reason Why You Do Not Test God
Eternal Destiny is at Stake
The ultimate reason why you do not test God is the worst possible scenario that God forbid you didn’t have a chance to make things right between you and your maker! Do you realize where you’d be? Hell is real and that’s where you can find yourself.
I can tell you this much friend I will keep praying for this family and I refuse to give up hope. I know they have different beliefs than I do and if you’re argumentative in trying to reach someone they’re just gonna push you farther away.
NO ONE is beyond the reach of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe God can change the heart of anyone! Can I challenge you today even though you may have tried to reach someone with the gospel and they push you farther and farther away…KEEP TRYING!
Covered in prayer
Giving up isn’t an option when those you love and come in contact with are facing an eternity apart from God! Keep lifting them in Prayer!
God’s word says where two or more are gathered in my name I will be in the midst. I know I want to be on the receiving end of God’s love when I take my last breath …NOT HIS WRATH!
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