One of the best books I’ve ever read is Disappointment with God by Phillip Yancy. I remember reading it avidly, hardly able to put it down. I had experienced this in my own life, and as a younger Pastor had to deal with it fairly often.

I learned a lot to say the least.

This memory has come back to me over the last few days as I’ve been watching my Mother’s struggle to recover from her fall and hip surgery and awaiting the outcome.

I remember people who’ve come to me for counsel or prayer about certain things. Examples might be getting that job they desperately need, or finding someone to love and marry, or the healing of a child, parent, spouse, etc.

I every case I try and comfort them and provide wise counsel (or something very much like it!) and always seek to draw them closer to God. It’s Christ they really need in their hearts, and I try and help them see that truth, and seek Him above and beyond whatever the need of moment might be.

I can’t say my results have been all that encouraging!

I distinctly remember one woman who finally came to church after her family and friends working on her for a long time. She had a chance at this dream job, and really wanted it. On the back of her attendance card she asked for prayer about it. She said if God was real then He’d give her the job.

Well she didn’t get the job, and I haven’t seen her since.

That’s disappointment with God, and I think it’s a feeling or experience almost all of us (certainally I) can relate to.

What used to surprise me is what happens when the opposite happens – when God actually answers their prayer with a big, fat YES!

I’ve seen people find the love they’ve been seeking, or the job or whatever. Everyone is thrilled, and grateful to God for doing this great thing in their lives!

Far to many times I don’t see them anymore either!

I’ve been thinking about this in my present context because the question of our real motivations is an always present issue for all of us.

Do I love God, or the things God gives me? And once I have what I want, will I stick around or blow God off until I need Him again?

The stubborn, sinful, fallen tendency of mankind is to be disappointed with God when He says, No; and to think we’re finished with God when He says Yes!

Either way God loses. Which means we lose, and so does everybody else!

When God and His plan and purpose for our lives loses, everyone always loses.

It’s time like these, where the longer term issue isn’t in doubt, that you tend to find out just who you really love the most.

God or…