July 6, 2026
Monday, July 6
In 2003, just after American troops invaded Iraq, a reporter asked the US Secretary of Defense why his generals were deviating from the battle plan. The Secretary replied, “I don’t believe you have the battle plan.”
How often do we ask God a similar question? “Lord, why is this happening? This isn’t the way things are supposed to go.” God might similarly respond, “What gives you the idea that you know how things are supposed to go? I have the battle plan, not you.”
Tim Keller, who pastored for years in Manhattan, one of most unchurched places in America, said people would often come to him with their objections: “I could never be a Christian because…’ and often it was because they couldn’t reconcile the idea of an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God with the evil they saw in the world. They would say, “If that kind of God really existed, He would never let children die of cancer. He would never allow 1% of the world to have most of the wealth, while millions are starving. He would never allow dictators and warlords to kill thousands of people and get away scot-free.” Keller would say something like, “Let’s assume a God like that really exists. Don’t you think that it’s possible that an all-knowing, completely righteous God knows a morally sufficient reason for the decisions He makes that you’re incapable of understanding?” Most would admit that it was indeed possible.
Many of us experience seasons of doubt. For instance:
“Lord, I go to church every Sunday and try my best to follow your will. But I’ve been laid off again, and the guy across the street, who curses your name and only cares about himself, has more money than he knows what to do with.”
“I have done things your way, Lord. I haven’t surrendered to temptation. So why am I still single, while all the people my age who have flaunted your commands are married?”
“Lord, I prayed and prayed for you to heal me. You did all those miracles in the Bible; why couldn’t you spare just one for me?”
It’s not wrong to ask those kinds of questions. Such sentiments are all through the Psalms. But when we experience pain and doubt, we need to acknowledge that we don’t know all that God knows. We need to admit that we don’t have the battle plan.
Last week, we saw God convince 80-year-old Moses to leave his comfortable life tending his father-in-law’s sheep to go back to Egypt and tell the most powerful man on earth to release his people from their slavery. This week, we’ll see what happened when he obeyed. Spoiler alert: Things got worse for Moses and the Israelites long before they got better. But they did get better.
“Father, when I am struggling and can’t see what you’re up to, or when I see the evil of this world and wonder why you don’t change things sooner, remind me that you have a plan, and that your plans are always perfect. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
