What is that conclusion you ask? Quite simply that for a vast majority of us, it takes circumstances that we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, are too much for us to confront us before we are ready, willing and able to surrender to our loving Father. I'm not saying that it's impossible for someone who hasn't had troubles or difficulties in life to have deep faith and allow God to be in control of their lives...I have known a small number of people who, at least for all outward appearances, were able to lead God-centered lives without having to go through rebellion and suffering to get to that point. (Of course it is also entirely possible that even those apparently fortunate few had been through personal trials of which I was unaware.)
As for the rest of us, our own stubbornness, pride and self will causes us to believe that we are capable of managing our own lives. We may have a measure of faith but pigeon hole it as something that belongs in church on Sunday or something that has it's place in hospitals or a mandatory prayer time such as 'bedtime prayers' or 'mealtime grace'. It may not even occur to us that it has a place in our office...or in our marriage...or in our finances...that God longs for us to give Him all of our lives. It isn't until we've suffered through the consequences of that pride and self-will making such a mess of our lives which we know we can't fix on our own that we are finally able to surrender our lives over to our Savior. How he must rejoice when one of his children come to the realization that He truly is the only way!
Unfortunately, sometimes the very situation which could be that turning point in our faith is also what holds us captive and prevents us from experiencing the spirit-filled life God has in mind for us. Once we are stripped of our pride and self-importance, we may feel that we are unworthy of God's love and care. For every person that I've seen come to God in a time of trouble, I've probably also seen at least an equal number stray further from him...either out of their own self-righteous anger and bitterness, choosing to fault God for their troubles rather than looking at their own part in them...or out of shame because they recognize their shortcomings but are still too proud to humble themselves and ask for God's forgiveness and help...they simply continue on believing that God won't help someone like them. That is the amazing part of the message of God's promises in that first verse of Isaiah 61...that we don't have to be 'worthy'. It is simply God's gift to us! How awesome is that?
I have known people who have deep faith and have been amazingly blessed by God who, at one time, would have been considered hopeless by man's standards...I would even include myself in those ranks. Just as Jesus did not follow mans judgement of worth when he spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, God doesn't 'throw away' His children when their fellow man might do just that! How grateful I am that my God is graceful and doesn't judge worth by man's standards. Among those I know who have come to God in surrender only to have their lives transformed by Him are those who have experienced addictions, broken relationships, loss of loved ones, divorce, serious illnesses, financial ruin, eating disorders, betrayal by those they trusted, physical, emotional or sexual abuse and the list goes on and on. I know what it took for God to achieve my surrender...what will it take for you?
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