Does God Cause Our Failures?

I've often wondered whether or not God creates situations for us in which he hopes (or maybe knows) that we'll fail. For example, will he lead us to go to college knowing that we'll flunk out? Will he ask us to apply for a job knowing we'll never get it? Will he orchestrate a relationship knowing we'll call it quits?

The answer, it seems, depends on our definition of failure.

Sitting in the pit that his own brothers had dug for him, Joseph probably felt like a failure.
Being ridiculed for building a giant boat on dry land, Noah probably felt like a failure.
Watching their fearless leader be nailed to a cross, the disciples probably felt like failures.

Meaning...

If Joseph's goal was family unity, he was a failure.
If Noah's goal was popularity, he was a failure.
If the disciple's goal was peace, they were a failure.

But, as you and I know, none of these were "failures" at all. They were merely circumstances considered by humans to be devastating, but orchestrated by God to be divine.

Joseph's "failure" put him in position to rescue an entire country from famine.
Noah's "failure" put him in position to save his family from flood.
The disciple's "failure" put them in position to witness the single most remarkable event in human history.

That pit you're in...that ridicule you're facing...that war you're fighting...it might not be a failure at all. It might just be that you have the wrong goal.

The Bible Has Value, But What Is It Worth?

I read an article this week listing the worst celebrity tippers in Hollywood. There were several surprises on the list, including Bill Cosby, Rachael Ray, and Mick Jagger. But the star that stuck out to me the most was Usher. Rather than add 15 or 20% to his restaurant bill, the R&B icon has reportedly become famous for leaving his autograph instead.

My guess is that Usher thinks, "My autograph is far more valuable than a tip. I'm doing this girl a favor." But what Usher doesn't realize is, regardless of the autograph's current value, it isn't worth much. Not to your average waitress anyway. What college student or single mom has the time to go home, snap a few pictures of the signature, post them to Ebay, monitor the online auction for a week, drop a package in the mail, and then wait another week in order to get her cash? She is probably knee-deep in school books. Or diapers. Or both.

As a Christian, I wonder how often I make similar gestures and suggestions that are inherently valuable, but aren't worth much at the time I'm giving them.

- A friend says that he is struggling with alcohol, and I simply say, "Man, you know, I live my life based on the Bible, and the Bible tells us to not get drunk."
- A relative calls to say that she has cancer, and I offer up a flippant, "You're going to be just fine. Remember, God promises to never give us more than we can handle."
- A neighbor confides that he is going through a divorce, and I throw out, "What are you thinking?! You know God hates divorce, right?"

Each of these responses is true and has value...but, in the moment, they aren't worth much. Information is rarely helpful in the middle of chaos. It's like trying to instruct a person how to properly skydive after jumping out of an airplane. It's like trying to teach someone to swim while they're drowning. It's like Usher offering up his autograph at a restaurant instead of a tip.

Don't try to teach during tragedy. Love. Listen. Help. Hug. Support. Share. But, whatever you do, don't teach. Someday your words will be helpful. Someday that verse will mean something. Someday the advice will resonate. But today -- in the middle of their mess -- probably isn't that day.

How Far is Too Far?

I recently watched an incredible sermon series by Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point Church in Atlanta. It was called "Guardrails," and in it Andy explored the idea of setting up barriers in our lives that we're not willing to cross - regardless of what society says. These guardrails might hurt a little bit now, but they prevent a ton of pain later on.

During one of the messages, Andy said, "We live in a culture...that baits us to the edge of disaster and then chastises us when we step over the line." For example:

Culture encourages us to buy things we can't afford...and is somehow surprised by our bankruptcy.

Culture coaxes us to drink every weekend...and is somehow confused by our alcoholism.

Culture tells us to do whatever feels good...and is somehow appalled by our pregnancy.

Culture wants us to flirt...and is somehow horrified by our affair.

Culture tempts us to work 80 hours a week...and is somehow caught off guard by our divorce.

Culture pushes us to be prettier...and is somehow perplexed by our suicide.

You know that feeling when you're leaning back in a chair and you reach the point where gravity begins to take you backward? That's too far. To keep from cracking your head open, the smart, healthy, and responsible thing to do is to not tip back that much. It's critical that we learn where to stop before trouble starts to set in.

The same is true in life. When it comes to our time, money, relationships, etc, we have to know where to stop. We have to have a barrier in place that prevents us from getting anywhere close to our own, personal tipping point.

Don't let society bait you toward the edge of disaster. They certainly won't be there to help you when you fall. Decide now where your line is going to be. The cost of building a personal guardrail is far less than the cost of not having one at all.

Can Anything Stop God?

Is there anything on this planet that can stop God? The Sunday school answer is 'no', of course. But I'm not so sure that's true. You can stop God. And so can I.

Let me be clear, God can do whatever he wants to...but one of the things he wants to do is give us the choice as to whether or not we follow him. He wants to use us...but we have to be willing to be used. That's the deal. Just ask Jonah and Moses and Noah and countless others.

When God calls us to lead a small group, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or mentor a student...and we've left no room on our calendar to fit it in - we stop God.

When God asks us to give to a local ministry, sponsor a needy child, or provide for a co-worker...and we've left no room in our budget - we stop God.

When God prompts us to start a church, defend a cause, or go above and beyond for our kids...and we've left no energy in our tank to do it - we stop God.


If you're still not convinced that you have the ability to put a crimp in God's plans, listen to 2 Corinthians 2:14 which says, "But thanks be to God, who...uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere." God is perfectly capable of spreading his own fame and, yet, he chooses us to do it instead. It's remarkable. Scary, but remarkable.

Our calendars, our checkbooks, and our day-to-day choices directly reflect our priorities. We make time, money, and energy available for the things that are most important to us. Church activities, kids, jobs, and self are eachimportant...but every time we put one of those things in front of God, we're making our desires go and making his desires stop.

Lives are Changed in the Little Stuff

Dr. Mary Kay Park

Dr. Mary Kay Park is a professor at Biola University and the daughter of world-renowned evangelist Billy Kim. In a recent YouTube video for a contest sponsored by the White House, Dr. Park reflected on an experience from nearly 40 years ago which changed the course of her entire life.

On the first day of third grade, Dr. Park's teacher - Miss Sanders - went around the room and had students read from their textbooks from the previous year. Growing up in Korea, Mary Kay struggled to read in English, and several of the students in the class began to make fun of her. "What a dummy," one student said. "She can't even read from the second grade reader!"

Miss Sanders then asked Mary Kay to come to the front of the class and write on the blackboard in Korean. Slowly, one-by-one, students took notice and began asking Mary Kay to write even more things in Korean...including their own names. In Dr. Park's own words, "I was instantly transformed from a dummy who can't read English to a smart, new kid who could read, write, and speak another language."

Dr. Park's dad, Billy, spent time with numerous world leaders, spoke to audiences of thousands, and led large Christian organizations, yet a small action taken by a third grade teacher was the one that permanently shaped Dr. Park's future. As she put it, "It infused my life with purpose and clear direction."

This past weekend, after four decades of searching (and after an unbelievable series of events), Mary Kay finally caught up with Miss Sanders and had the chance to thank her personally. I know because Miss Sanders is now Mrs. Sinclair. She's my mom.

The point isn't how great my mom is...though she is.
The point isn't about how great her life lesson was...though it was.
The point isn't even about how great a reunion this became.

The point is that, even when you don't realize you are impacting those around you...you are.

Whether you are mothering a toddler or managing a company...pastoring a church or performing a surgery...taxiing kids back and forth to t-ball or teaching a room full of third graders...God can (and will) use you. In fact, I'm quite sure he already is.

The funny (and often frustrating) part is that, in the moment, we rarely realize the difference that is being made. In my mom's case, it took close to 40 years to learn how she had impacted Mary Kay's young life. And many others - this side of heaven - may never know how something they said or did made a difference.

So, even if it's tough right now...even if you feel like what you're doing doesn't matter much...don't give up. Keep doing what God is calling you to do. Lives are changed in the little stuff. Just ask Mary Kay Park.