Taken from www.clarion-call.org

From Gail:  I have found from personal experience that we define things from God as we would define them here on earth with our finite minds.  It doesn’t work that way.  Isaiah 55:8,9 states:

 ⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
       neither are your ways my ways,”
       declares the LORD.

 ⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
       so are my ways higher than your ways
       and my thoughts than your thoughts.

When we define the things of God as we would define them, we put God in a box and run into trouble with our faith just because God doesn’t answer when we want him to, or how we want him to.  We have a tendency to define God, our heavenly father,  as we would our earthly father.  If we had an abusive father, we will see God as abusive.  In my case, I come from a middle class home.  I didn’t have everything I wanted but always had everything I needed.  If I needed lunch money for school, for example, I just asked for it and got it, just like that.  When I got out on my own, I found out quickly that it doesn’t work that way with God.  I can’t ask things of God, and get it instantly, even though I didn’t ask for a lot of “wants” just needs.  God wanted to teach me to be resourceful, to exercise my mind,  He didn’t want me to turn into a spiritual “fat cat.”  

I believe the same concept works for most situations.  Maybe when God says no or wait, we need to examine our belief systems to make sure they are correct.  If we believe wrongly, God doesn’t want to reinforce it.  Perhaps God wants to teach you to be more resourceful.  If you have a money shortage, what can you do to improve it?  How can you cut back on expenses?  Can you sell something?  Are there certain food items you buy you could and should do without?

The phrase “God helps those that help themselves” is not in the Bible but the concept is true.  There is a Bible scripture in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, for example, that states 

 ¹⁰For even when we were with you, this we commanded you: that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some among you who walk disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

  When we don’t work, we get ourselves in trouble.

So, in conclusion, what is faith?  It is trusting and believing that God works all things out for our good, sometimes sooner rather than later, and sometimes later rather than sooner.  Solomon put it all together in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

 ¹³Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. ¹⁴For God shall bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.