GOD CAN’T BLOW YOUR NOSE

By Morris Chalfant

A hillbilly, lying in the shade of a tree, was told by a passerby that his cabin was on fire. He replied, “I know it.”

“Then why don’t you do something?” he was asked.

His answer: “I am doing it. Been praying for rain ever since it started.”

God does not do for us, in answer to prayer, what we, with a little “get up,” can do for ourselves.

It is true that prayer brings the omnipotent God to work for us. As the result of experience, we know that prayer changes things. But sometimes prayer is not enough.

This is true when it becomes a substitute for action. “The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward” (Exodus 14:15).” God is not going to do our walking for us. He has given us two legs and two feet to do it ourselves. We should not ask God to do for us that which He has given us the ability to do. J.G. Holland said, “God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it in the nest”

A little girl was very much upset when her brother made a trap to catch little birds. She prayed the trap might fail. Then, while pondering the problem, her face suddenly lit up.

The next day, when she again prayed the trap might fail, her mother noticed she prayed with more assurance of faith. Her mother said, “Julia, I noticed you’re not so worried over the trap now; you seem to
be sure your prayer will be answered.”

“Yes,” she answered, “I know my prayer will be answered now; for I went out and kicked the trap to pieces.”

This reminds me of what my father once said: “Son, God is not obligated to blow your nose or tie your shoestrings.”

When I have a flat tire I don’t kneel down in the road and ask the Lord to repair it. I thank Him for a spare and tools and strength to change the tire. When I pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” I don’t sit down and wait until God brings me a sandwich. I thank Him for the farmer, the baker, the grocer, and for giving me the money to buy their products.

The principle that God works when we obey can be applied to the healing of physical and emotional illnesses. Instead of merely praying for recovery and then doing nothing, the Lord would have us use whatever means are available to relieve our suffering, even as we trust Him for strength and healing. To refuse medical aid is presumption, not faith,

Jesus will not “roll away the stone” from the problem in your life if the solution is within our own power. Your part is one thing Jesus won’t do for you!

(The above information was published by Morris Chalfant, Spring 1982)

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