Moving from the Land of the God Won'ts

Are there circumstances in your life that you feel would always be the same -- things that you have desired for the Lord to change for so long (maybe a persistent sin struggle or a season in life or a growth in a particular area of life) and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere and you find yourself retreating to the mindset of the "God won't"?

Recently, I was talking with a dear friend of mine, Bev, regarding this very thing -- that out of protection from disappointment, it seems safer to live in the Land of the God Won't.  Imagine having a plot of land that you've been tending and yet, nothing seems to be growing.  Wouldn't you be tempted to move to the dessert where it is actually normal for nothing to grow there?  The problem is, this land is quite barren of joy and hope.  Bev challenged me to live rather in the Land of the God Might Not.  At first glance, this land look very similar to the Land of the God Won't for it doesn't promise growth either.  But as Bev pointed out, there is hope in this land as one submits to and wait for what the Lord might do rather than being the judge of what the Lord won't do -- and then be bitter about it.

I've been reading Micah in the mornings and this tiny book in the OT is filled with so much good truth and hope (sadly, to my surprise).  Micah was living in a time where he would want the circumstances around him to change as he witnessed rampant disobedience, oppression and injustice both within and without the community of Israel.

Here are some of the descriptions of vain toil as judgment on these people in their sin:

"You shall eat, but not be satisfied, and there shall be hunger within you; you shall put away, but not preserve, and what you preserve I will give to the sword.  You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine."  Micah 6:14-15

And yet, in the midst of such dire circumstances (very apparent to be brought forth by the Lord who controls the rain and the plants and all), Micah lives in the Land of the God Will...

"But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. " Micah 7:7

Reason?

"Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?  He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.  He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot.  You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.  You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old."  Micah 7:18-20

When I live in the Land of the God Won't, I misunderstand God's character.  I see Him as a stingy taskmaster rather the God described here -- filled with compassion, forgiveness, steadfast love and faithfulness -- the true God of the universe, abundant in grace and mercy!

So, let's move -- out of the Land of the God Won'ts and into the Land of the God Might Not -- but maybe even to the Land of the God Will, trusting that God will do His good work in us and bring forth the very best.