You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart, and you will be found by me,’ declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:13-14
Several years ago, I gave my son-in-law, Nic, a flint fire starter. He is very much an outdoorsman, so I thought he could use it one day on one of his camping trips. After all, what outdoorsman wants to start a fire in the wild with matches when he can do it with a flint fire starter? And besides, on a more practical note, if his matches got wet from the rain or by crossing a river, then how would he start a fire? Anyway, my son-in-law loved the gift, and it was right up his alley.
A flint by itself cannot produce a spark; it must be struck against another piece of steel. The friction created by doing this causes a small curl of steel to peel off and ignite. If you do this near some dry leaves or brush, then you’ll get fire.
To better understand how steel ignites in this process, take a coat hanger and bend it over and over again in one spot until it gets so hot you can hardly touch it. This is basically what goes on when you repeatedly strike flint against another piece of steel; it gets hotter and hotter with every strike. Unhappily, though, sometimes it takes a lot of striking to get a strong enough spark to work, which can be frustrating, especially if you are freezing out in the cold and desperately want some immediate warmth, hot food, or light.
In a parallel way, striking the flint is what the Christian life can be like at times, especially when seeking God’s will on a particular issue or direction. Like the continual striking of flint, I sometimes pray over and over again about things that bother me, hoping God will respond and answer according to my wishes.
The repeated striking of the flint with no responding fire is like seeking God’s answer to an issue but with seemingly no response, at least not the kind of response for which I was looking. Too often in these instances, I give way to confusion, worry, and even hopelessness, as I get colder and colder in my circumstances. Then night comes, and I am as cold as ever, so I moan, complain, and grumble to God, saying, “Where are you? Have you not heard my pleas? Do you not care? Come on, Lord, how often do I have to strike?”
Amidst my frustration, a hiker comes along and says, “Take a break from striking and just rest in the Lord for a while.” This sounds good, and I decide to do just that. Climbing into my sleeping bag, so to speak, I get some warmth, but still no fire, no answer to my prayers. Then I get up and strike again and again with my prayers, seeking and knocking, yet still no fire. In my resting in the Lord, I once again grow impatient, and strike again and again with more prayers, becoming exhausted and more frustrated. I can hardly move; I am so tired.
Finally, God sends another hiker who has been where I am right now. This person tells me how to strike the flint and rest at the same time. “When striking,” he says, “Do it with as much energy as you can muster, but after striking, rest a little longer before striking again. In your resting, recognize that God is probably delaying so that your faith and patience will grow to new levels.” This may be far more important to God, then the answers you are seeking.
This hiker goes on, “Realize that what you may want will likely involve others as well. That will take perfect timing, which only God can accomplish. And remember God loves and has as much a will for you as He does for others around you.”
Last Thought
One day when perhaps you least expect it the fire will ignite, and your prayers will be answered. At that moment, you will feel a new warmth toward God, as He lights your way with a new understanding. And while enjoying the blaze of an answered prayer, begin to recognize how different you are now from where you were when you first began asking. Lastly, help others learn how to strike and rest as they strive, hope, and wait for the Lord to ignite their fires.
Scriptures References
Mathew11:28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Psalm 61:1-4 1 Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. 4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.
Matthew 7:7-11 7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Psalms 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Romans 8:27-28 27 God who searches our hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because the Spirit intercedes for believers according to God’s will. 28 For we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purposes.