There once was a man who was
ship-wrecked and stranded on a remote island. Every day he prayed asking God to
send someone to rescue him, but to his disappointment, no one ever came.
Month after lonely month
dragged past and out of necessity the man learned how to survive on the island.
During this time, he accumulated things from the island and stored them in a
hut that he constructed. One day after hunting for food and returning back to
his hut, to his horror he saw that his hut was afire along with everything else
he owned.
He collapsed to his knees and
watched helplessly as all he owned went up in smoke! the only thing he had left
were the clothes on his back. After the initial shock wore off he became
consumed with anger and rage.
In his fury he looked to the
sky, shook his fist toward and began yelling, "God, how could you let this
happen to me? I've been praying diligently every day for months begging you to
send someone to rescue me. Now all I get is this fire that destroyed everything
I have except the clothes I am wearing. Why did you let this happen to me? How
could you?
The man so exhausted himself in
his grief that he fell asleep on the beach. When he awoke he sat up to catch
sight of a ship sailing in his direction. The ship landed on the shore and the
man was finally rescued. When he met up with the ship's captain he asked him,
"How were you able to find me?"
We were sailing near your island when we saw
your smoke signal and knew someone was in distress so we came in to check it
out. That's how we found you!
How do you think this man felt after he had
doubted God?
Have you ever doubted God?
Have you ever accused Him falsely?
I Corinthians 13:7 says, "It (love)
always trusts, always hopes...."
The word used for
"trust" means "to give the benefit of the doubt" or
"to judge charitably". This poor man in the midst of his trouble and
distress forgot to give God the benefit of the doubt. Fortunately God extended
the benefit of the doubt to him and sent the rescuers.
Perhaps you can relate with poor fellow's plight. Maybe you feel God has left you stranded in a lonely situation and He seems tone deaf toward you prayers. Perhaps, like him, you have lost hope of being rescued from your dire situation.
What can you do?
I suggest you do as he did. I recommend you decide to give God the benefit of the doubt in your pain or suffering. When you begin doing that you will be amazed at what will happen to you. What will happen is hope will start rising within you!
Where would you be if God ever failed to give you the benefit of the doubt?
Doesn't God deserve the benefit of the doubt from you?