When one is down to nothing IS God up to something
 

I ask this cause I have friends and family--even myself from time to time--that ask this to themselves. They are going through hell-on-earth and trying to get a leg up or even a foot up at times and things don't seem to turn. I have heard sermons preached about "When you are down to nothing God is up to something" a lot of times. My question is this; is this the fact? When you are at the end of your rope is God there or just a loop to hang ones self? Do you know what I mean?

With all the bad things happening in the US with the economy and having too much month at the end of the money type thing it makes me wonder how bad will it get. There are 1 income families like mine that it is tough to make it, but we press on. We are tithe payers and still have problems from time to time. Others I know are in worse shape. I know hundereds of my friends that have made good choices in the past and had money all to have nothing now and losing their homes. I believe God has a plan in all this, but do you think that when we are down to nothing that God is up to something or is the ball in our court to go do something better? We have the power to obtain wealth but what expenses to we give up for wealth? Is God up to something in ones life when he or she is down to nothing? What say ye?

Re: When one is down to nothing IS God up to somet
 

bump

Re: When one is down to nothing IS God up to somet
 

My parents made it thru the great depression, world war,
poverty, not to mention the many hurts and disappoints that
we all face.

They always told me they are better people as a result of
ALL of the above. Hard times creates a better people in the
long end of it

Re: When one is down to nothing IS God up to somet
 

I agree, but how does one stay sane through it all? Is it just life or is God removing the hedge about us so to speak? What do you think?

Re: When one is down to nothing IS God up to somet
 

Maybe the only God can get our attention is by removing our Idols.
I'm not talking about your friends directly. I'm talking about God's people as a whole.
What have our Idols been? laying up treasures of this world, trusting in the system, Education, entertainment,etc.
I think that God has been patient but we haven't heeded the gentle
tugs.

JT, we had a family in our church who lost their home to this
foreclosure crisis. At first they were so stressed out, working all kinds
of jobs, never home for their 4 kids, etc etc,
After it all caved in, they said they actually felt a huge relief. they
have more time for God, for their kids, everyone is at peace

Re: When one is down to nothing IS God up to somet
 

I can see that happening. I guess when the world around you crumbles then you are left the things you really need in your life to live.

Re: When one is down to nothing IS God up to somet
 

We went through a horribly devastating time two years ago - the worst thing I've ever faced in ministry. However, looking back, God has done so much more for us and blessed us so much over the past two years. Our church probably wouldn't be nearly to the size it is today if we hadn't gone through what we did. God can take the bad things and turn them into blessings. I thoroughly believe that!!

Re: When one is down to nothing IS God up to somet
 

I don't buy into the "statement" of your title, "When one is down to nothing God is up to something" understanding you posed it as a "question."

While I understand that there is an adversary who want to kill, steal, and destroy Peter tells us that he is "as a lion seeking whom he may devour." Notice the "whom" apparently not everyone is vulnerable to attacks.

So my first question to myself would be, "Why am I down to nothing?" It's not God, it's not His plan, it's not His nature.

I know we live in a society where everyone thinks it's someone else fault, but I am of the opinion that God is good, He came that I might have life more abundantly, and if it isn't working then I need to look at my life -- sin, lack of faith, lack of obedience, lack of knowledge...

Again, Gods system is perfect we just don't always abide by the rules. We come into church and praise the great Almighty and then look at the world's system and wonder how we are going to make it.

I personally believe that God has given me all things that pertain to my life (2 Peter 1:3). Just this week as I have been preparing to leave for 5 meetings I knew there would be offerings which I didn't have and a few days after that was going to be at another meeting that I needed to sow into. I "purposed" in my heart (2 Cor 9:7) what I want to sow in each of the meetings and told the Lord what I needed. I believe according to 1 John that when I pray according to His will He hears me and when He hears me I have what I ask. A couple days later I got a check that was almost to the penny where I could bring my tithes and what was left over meet those needs.

I got up this morning and realized that there was no cash in my wallet. I told the Lord that I needed some cash for my travels tomorrow. Knowing that He heard me and that I had prayed according to His will (He said He would meet my needs) that I would have it. Around lunch time as I was heading to my office I got redirected and ended up at a place where a guy had some cash he needed to give me. Praise the Lord.

God meets our needs...who cares what the stock market does, what gas is, what taxes are, if you put your trust in God - do what He says - believe and doubt not your needs are met.

Re: When one is down to nothing IS God up to somet
 

I think that at times we need to be reminded that everything under the sun is vanity. It is imperative that we do not become temporal in our perspective, desires, and priorities.

Re: When one is down to nothing IS God up to somet
 

Hmmm, not sure! In most cases I've seen, it's been more on the lines of bad decision making on their part, then God!