TESTIMONY: God is not invested in my personal happiness

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WHAT RELIGION TAUGHT ME


I grew up believing that God’s interested in ensuring that I  live a happy life. I believed that my happiness is a sign of God’s presence in my life.


WHAT FAITH IS TEACHING ME

 I am a fan of Formula 1 and Lewis Hamilton is my favorite Formula 1 driver at the moment. This weekend was a finale between him and Max Verstappen, unfortunately for me Max won it As a Lewis Hamilton fan this did not go down well with me.


The morning before the race I secretly prayed for Lewis Hamilton to win because his win would have made me happy in a very long season where nothing seems to go my way and I was convinced that God will grant me this prayer so I can have some happiness even if it was for a short while. But it was not to be. The outcome of this race really scared me and for a brief moment I doubted my faith because there are other consequential things I am waiting on God for and if he would not deliver on this none consequential outcome then I am in trouble. I even questioned whether I heard God or does he even exist?


I am sure somewhere in the world there is a Max Verstappen fan who secretly prayed a similar prayer that morning. So why did God answer his prayer and not mine? Does this mean God loves him more than he loves me? These and other questions were on my mind after the race.


On reflection I realized that I am making this about myself and God never promised me that this life is about me. In fact the Bible teaches me that I am here to fulfill his purpose and not the other way around.


Romans 8:28 says God makes everything work together for my good so I have to believe that the outcome of the Formula 1 finale race in 2021 as unpleasant as it is for me it is for God's purpose and my good. I might not understand this now but I have to believe that God is using this to build in me a character that he can use to reflect his Son Jesus Christ for his glory and to bless others.


And God actually answered both prayers for me as a Lewis Hamilton fan he said NO and for the Max Verstappen fan he said YES and both answers are meant to serve his purpose which I might not understand on this side of eternity.


CONCLUSION


God is more interested in building in me a character than is reflective of Jesus Christ than he is in my personal happiness.


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