Reversals!
by Mike Rule

God continually brings circumstances into our lives in order that we would embrace weakness and as a result be safe to reveal His glory. Consequently, we experience reversals in situations that we thought were moving forward, or were at least steady and secure. Let me explain what I mean by a reversal. God often works in this order:
1)  Promise-He makes a promise and we have the choice to respond in faith to His leading. 
2)  Reversal-The seeming opposite to what God promised occurs; the fulfillment of the promise seems so close and then    everything falls apart.
3)  Fulfillment-The realization of the promise occurs. Look at the scripture for many examples. Reversals make us safe for God's glory. They put us in the place of seeing that if God does not show up, there is NO hope. Reversals are painful; they reveal our unbelief and stretch our faith. Reversals move us beyond our own limits of comfort, and emotionally I often feel that reversals stink. Yet no matter how I kick and scream in the midst of them, I would not trade them for anything. Reversals are necessary to guard us from stealing God's glory.

As an example, I recently had someone take advantage of me. I had been promised something and for over six months the fellow followed through on his word. Then one day everything changed. He went back on his word, acted like there had been no promise in the first place, and behaved as if he had not been fulfilling that promise up to then. I wanted to close myself off from the situation and refuse to enter back into the circumstances. I was perplexed, maybe a bit depressed, and definitely frustrated. While I pondered this God clearly said, "He is not causing you the problem, Mike; it is I. I want you to keep on, knowing that you are going to be taken advantage of. It is going to cost you in both time and money. Trust me. It is not he; it is I." He was right. It continued, and it cost. It seemed totally senseless, but we walk by faith and not by sight. God knew what He was doing, and He taught me to bless and pray for those who go back on their word and take advantage of me. He shows me that as people take advantage of Him every day, I can expect no less in my own life. I am to love anyway and receive these things as from God Himself.

There was the reversal of our vehicle situation. Someone called and donated a beautiful 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan to us. A low mileage engine had been installed some years ago but those who did the work could not get it running. After five years of trying, they gave up on it and told me I could have it if I wanted it. I trailered it home and had it running in less than an hour. Becky and I were ecstatic as we anticipated having it for our next trip! Within a week I had it repaired and ready for the road. Then we found major problems with--of all things--the vehicle title. It sat in our driveway ready to drive, but with no title, no license and at least a two-week wait while the previous owner sorted out the legal mess. At that point we knew we would not be able to take it on the upcoming trip. It took me a while to yield to that one, yet He whispered again, "Trust Me.…" The list of these kinds of things goes on and on. It is hard to trust God in so many seemingly "senseless" situations. So often I do not understand God's reasoning and purpose.

Just like with the van, we often receive a spiritual promise from God but do not see it evidenced in our lives. One day the promise begins to be fulfilled and we start seeing evidence. After much work and effort we discover that we are so close, but it still is not really ours. We must go through reversal and wait. It seems senseless. It seems there must be something we can do to "fix" the situation; nevertheless, we must wait. The promise was given, the fulfillment is right before our eyes, but it is not truly ours yet. After surrendering the situation completely to God and much waiting, we discover the fulfillment. What we hoped for and had begun to receive has now become ours. We have full ownership. This has shown me there is a vast difference between faith and belief. While they are close cousins, they are not one and the same.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Belief is ownership and is based in experience and knowledge. We are born in unbelief, which literally means we are ruled and controlled by false beliefs. Good news! Jesus accepts us where we are! The father in Mark 9:14-29 said to Jesus, "I believe, help my unbelief." What a statement of faith! Is it any wonder that Jesus was willing to meet this man where he was and minister to him and his son? Believing can only come after walking through the door of faith. We cannot choose to believe anything; either we believe or we do not. We begin with our beliefs, and only through faith can we continue to see them explode and grow. Otherwise we are simply stagnant and dead. Faith is what connects our belief with our unbelief, and through embracing God in faith He proves Himself and expands our belief. When we choose faith in spite of our beliefs God proves Himself faithful. Therefore, doubts do not indicate that we have no faith; they reflect the level of our unbelief. Faith and doubt go hand in hand. If there is no doubt, we are not walking in faith but in knowledge. When we choose faith OVER our doubts God is thrilled and by His grace we step into believing. Is it any wonder it is said that we do not rule or control our believing but rather it rules and controls us? Often our beliefs are simply a measure of our actual unbelief. However, through faith we grow in the knowledge of God (grow to know God) and move from faith to faith. Through faith we eagerly await the righteousness for which we hope... The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5) This is what leads us into the full knowledge of the Glory of the Lord.