Calling into Existence

I was proofing Sunday's bulletins today, and a verse stopped me in my tracks. "...who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist." (Romans 4:17b NRSV) Our God does that, you know. He calls things into existence that don't exist. We have a void of love, and He calls love---we have a void of hope, and He calls hope---we have a void of purpose, and He calls purpose---we have a void and He calls. Now the problem with us sometimes is that we fail to recognize what God has called. It doesn't look like we think it should look, doesn't feel like we think it should feel, doesn't come when we think it should come.

I don't know about you, but there have been times I prayed for patience, a more tender heart, a more defined purpose, and it comes. But it seems to come only when I let go --- only when I turn from it and seek God. I ask for a tender heart, and God puts me in another situation where I need to love someone regardless of how much I like them. I ask for patience, and here comes something that tries my very last nerve. I ask for relief, and God sends me a friend. I ask for purpose, and God sends me Himself.

God doesn't take away the situation. Oh yeah, that's what we want Him to do. I think that's why we miss it. We're looking for release. Instead, I think He puts us right back in the same scenario with a chance to do it over again --- only the right way this time.

This may be a simplistic view. In fact I know several of you who are going through things that have no end in sight, and no change in view. But don't give up. Call on God, and ask Him to call into existence exactly what you need. Then keep your heart open. Verse 18 of Romans 4 starts, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations..." Put your name in there, against all hope (your name) in hope believed and so became ________. Believe God for what you need. Only He can call into existence the things that do not exist.