I have always enjoyed country music. It’s not something I listen to exclusively, but who doesn’t enjoy the occasional tune by people like Jo Dee Messina, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban or Kenny Rogers?
As a rule, country music makes you feel good. It might be the beat of the song, or the fact that your life may be bad, but nowhere near the dysfunctional lives portrayed in most country tunes.
You’ve heard the joke. What happens when you play a country record backwards? You get your wife back, your truck back and your house back.
Several years ago, I heard a Garth Brooks song that bothered me. And I like Garth Brooks. The majority of his songs are very entertaining and he is the consummate performer. But this one stuck in my craw, as they might say in a country song.
The song is called, “Unanswered Prayers.” It starts off simple enough. He’s back at a high school football game and bumps into an old girlfriend, the one that got away. He remembers how this was the woman he wanted more than anyone else in the world, and how he had prayed for them to be together. Somehow, it never happened.
Then, take it to the chorus: “Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers; Remember when you’re talkin’ to the ‘Man Upstairs;’ Just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean He don’t care; Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”
My first rub is calling God the “man upstairs.” He is the sovereign creator of the universe who rules and reigns over every molecule that makes up you and me. The man upstairs is some guy named Clyde who plays his Hank Williams albums too loud and parks his bass boat too close to your car in the parking lot.
But that aside, the bigger issue is there are also no “unanswered prayers.” I believe God always answers prayers with Yes, No or Wait. We just don’t like the last two answers. Our society demands instant gratification. We are Varuca Salt from “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” only worse. We want it now.
I am the father of two daughters and, like many dads, would love to give them everything they want. But suppose they came to me back when they were 6 and 3 asking for a Harley Davidson motorcycle. While my heart would want to please them, common sense says no or wait. Granting this wish would have had tragic results.
The same is true with God. He knows what’s best for us and sees the big picture better than anyone on or off the planet. We must trust His answers about our marriages, careers, hobbies as much as my kids should have trusted me turning them down on that Harley.
Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” And in Isaiah 40:31 we read, “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Makes me think that when God says No or Wait, He is also renewing my strength…recharging me for the next big chapter in my life. So I should rest in that, and prepare to soar.
Garth was partially right. “Just because he doesn’t answer, doesn’t mean he don’t care.” But there are no unanswered prayers. God answers every single one, perfectly, right on time and based on His big picture.
Now, about those friends in low places.
No comments:
Post a Comment