There are some things in our culture that are hideous and gross. One of those things is child abuse/child neglect. Federal law defines this as an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm. This definition of child abuse and neglect refers specifically to parents and other caregivers. Anyone with any sense of decency would agree that this is a major problem and it rates right up there with rape, murder, kidnapping, and spousal abuse. Our hearts break for the abused children and we become angry with the caregivers who commit these awful crimes. How can anyone abuse or neglect a child?
In the past several months, our country has seen an economic down-turn. Gas prices are up. Real estate sales are down. Many have seen secure jobs slip out of their hands. Because of this, many ministries have had to make adjustments. ReFocus Ministry was no exception. After years of only telling God our needs, we saw ‘the brook dry up’.
I wish that I could say that I have handled this well. I have complained, murmured, and even become resentful of the Lord’s dealings with me. This week the Lord showed me how that I had accused Him of child abuse and child neglect. When I saw that, I almost lost my breath. Because of delays in answers to prayer, I have literally placed God among those who have been convicted as child abusers.
This happens when we begin to doubt the love of God. Without my knowing it, the Enemy had convinced me that God no longer loved me like He did at one time. Zephaniah 3:17 says that God has rested in His love for us. That means that God has reached a point that His love for us is established. There is nothing that I can do that will ever make God not love me.
I have come to the conclusion that I have done the same thing that Israel did. Psalm 137:1-2 (KJV) By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. Israel hung up their harps because they had no song. They could always sing when deliverance would come. They could always sing when answers to prayers would come. But they could not sing of God’s faithfulness during the trials. They, too, accused God of child abuse.
I have seen that our greatest testimony is to sing during the trials, during the times of drought, during the times of delay, during the times of silence from God. I now choose to pick up my harp and sing a seven verse hymn:
* God loves me.
* God is faithful.
* God is awesome.
* God hears me.
* God knows what He is doing.
* God will honor His covenant of promise.
* God will answer my prayers.
And no song about God could end any better than the way Jesus ended the Garden of Gethsemane scene. After all the agony of the garden, the hurt, the tears, the pain, Jesus said, “Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done!”
This is my song. I will sing it wherever God plants me. This is my song if my circumstances never change.
Forgive me, God, for accusing You of abuse and neglect.
Billy