I was speaking with a university student recently who is pondering much about her future career and path after graduation. I remembered how much this life planning after college consumed my mind during those young adult years. I encouraged my young friend to seek God, listen to His voice and receive His peace, and to stay in the Christian community. I also reassured her that God has the best plans for her life since He knows what’s best for her with all the gifts, talents and passions that He has already deposited within her. Speaking with her made me think about an old message that I wrote long time ago. I wasn’t sure when I wrote it but I found it! hope this old message encourages you today.

I wrote this message in July 2012. It brought back intense memories for me once I realized this truth – “Why would God rob you?!”

“Why would God rob you?!”

Several months ago, at the five-dollar store (it’s a great store to check out), I bought this movie called “The Nativity Story”. The movie is about the lives of Joseph and Mary. The movie came out in 2007 and Keisha Castel-Hughes plays Mary if you want to see it. I was holding onto it and waiting for time alone to watch it. My husband is away right now so last night was perfect timing. (even the Christian radio had Christmas songs day yesterday and that is how I remembered I had this movie)

I think the movie did a great job of showing lives of Mary and Joseph, and what they went through. They were simple, kind, young people who trusted their lives and reputation to God. Mary, who was a very good girl, gave up her reputation to become pregnant before wedlock! Back then, that was so, so shameful and she could’ve been stoned to death when she came back home from staying with her cousin, Elizabeth. The movie did a good job of showing how difficult it was for her to come back home, big and pregnant. Mary accepted God’s mission for her life and gave up her life of security. She was supposed to marry Joseph who was a hard-working and a ‘good catch of a husband’. Even when the villagers scorned her and avoided her, she didn’t lose hope in God. She didn’t run away from the village and their cold looks. She stood firm until God worked behind the scenes and revealed to Joseph to stand by her and marry her. And of course, you know the end of this story…Joseph, the “good catch of a husband” stood by her side and honored her with marriage and security.

As I was thinking of her story going to bed, I thought of God who asked me to give up my dream of becoming a college professor. I obeyed him but it was out of fear than out of love. I was basically a fearful slave to God. I didn’t believe God in his true character like Mary did. Obedience out of fear only goes so far in our walk with God. When I came home, I fell apart from comments and looks by my mom that ‘I studied hard for a wrong career’. My family thought I gave up a professor career because I couldn’t do it or didn’t want to study anymore. It was brutally hard to let them think this. I couldn’t tell them the truth like Mary did to her parents, because I was ashamed and fearful of the God I was serving.

This morning as I was praying, these words clearly was heard inside my head – “Why would God rob you?!” I once believed God robbed me of a wonderful career and future. But seeing this movie showed how God did not rob Mary of anything at all! God blessed her with a ‘good catch of a husband’, security, honor, and the most lavish gift possible – a baby Messiah to humanity!!!

Yesterday, I needed to break a $20. I went into my son’s wallet to look for change. I only found two fives. I placed my $20 into his wallet because I didn’t want to forget to put the $10 back in his wallet. I doubled his wallet money because I didn’t want to rob him of any money by accident. As his mom, I will never rob him instead I will give him all I’ve got.

These series of things happened to me last 24 hours and I am overwhelmed with this new revelation – “Why would God rob you?!” He will never, ever rob me of anything good. I hope, like Mary, we can all sacrifice ourselves to God completely and stand firm in his character; and believe that he really rewards those who seek him and does his will. I am grateful to the Holy Spirit to finally putting peace in my heart about this. I won’t look back anymore with “what ifs” but will look forward to what God has for me. 🙂 It’s all good. Take care and I hope my revelation inspires you today.

(There is a sequel to this message that I wrote when I took back control of the “steering wheel” of my life from God in my mid-20s. It happened soon after I came back home. Once I find that old message, I will share it with you.)

Here is the movie information if you want to watch it this Christmas season. 

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0762121/

Pastor Francis Chan is teacher that I have been learning from regularly for the last 13 years. He could be hard to hear and is very strict but I appreciate his honesty and vulnerability. Like many of us who grew up without being pampered and spoiled, he is accustomed to not asking for much but for the basics. I love his vulnerability in sharing how God showed His love for him by ridiculously answering his prayers and personal wants in supernatural ways. If you don’t have a close family member who can share stories with you about God’s goodness and love over their many years following God, then you need to go outside and listen from these pastors and teachers who share with great openness. I have learned so much from them about being a good disciple of Jesus Christ and how to live biblically in this world. 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-love-podcast/id1007053996?i=1000637744403

Here’s an example more of Francis Chan’s stricter style of preaching. It’s convicting but I really appreciate his tough-love talk. 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-love-podcast/id1007053996?i=1000635749233