By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
Growing up not just a blonde but a “towhead” blonde, I’ve heard my fair share of “blonde jokes” over the years. I bet you have too. Typically, they insinuate blondes are not very smart. While I reject validity to claims that hair color impacts IQ, I will admit, I tend to be a bit naïve and gullible. More than my dark-haired friends? I’ll let you decide.
To be honest, I’ve never minded hearing blonde jokes. Most of them are pretty funny. Here’s one that makes me chuckle to this day:
There once was a blonde woman who was down on her luck and in need of financial help. Being a woman of faith, she got on her knees and prayed a bold prayer. “Lord, I lost my job and can’t pay my bills. Will you please help me win the lottery.”
Night after night, she prayed this same prayer. And day after day, she did not win.
Several weeks went by with the same results. Finally, out of desperation, she pleaded her case one last time. “God, why aren’t you helping me? Can’t you see I’m desperate? I’m about to lose everything!”
At that very moment, like a loud clap of thunder from Heaven, God spoke, “My child, I need you to meet me halfway here; buy a lottery ticket!”
Oh, the irony. As I contemplate this blonde woman’s bold request, I have to ask myself, do I sometimes do the same? Do I approach God in fervent prayer, requesting this or that, expecting Him to act, but then sit back and do nothing?
Sadly, the answer is yes. (Perhaps I should rethink the whole blonde—IQ thing.)
Years ago, I came across a thought-provoking quote: We cannot do what God does, but God will not do what we can.
Yes, God loves us and has our best interests at heart. Yes, He wants to help us. But we also need to do our part and be proactive. We need to meet God halfway.
Before I go any further, let me be clear. God doesn’t need our help. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is above all things and before all things. In Him all things hold together. Nothing is impossible for Him. However, God encourages our participation.
It’s not that He can’t do it without us. It’s that He doesn’t want to do it without us. God’s heart’s desire is to cultivate a relationship with us. In any relationship, there’s give and take—there’s push and pull. God doesn’t just want us to see what He can do. He wants us to know who He is.
- God parted the waters of the Red Sea, but the Israelites still had to walk through to the other side. (Exodus 14)
- God answered the cries of His people and provided Manna for food, but they still had to go out to gather it each day. (Exodus 16)
- God promised His people a land filled with milk and honey, but they still had to fight to take possession of it. (Joshua 1)
- God gave David victory over Goliath, but he still had to gather stones and thrust them at Goliath’s head. (1 Samuel 17)
- God healed Naaman of his leprosy, but he still had to dip himself into the Jordan seven times. (2 Kings 5)
- God will save all who call upon Jesus, but we still need to go out and preach the Gospel to every tongue, tribe, and nation. (Mark 16)
As we work together with God towards a common goal, God builds our faith and provides our needs, leading and guiding us every step of the way.
Sure, God can do it without us. But history shows, His desire is that we walk it out together with Him.
Therefore, friends, the next time we pray, let’s be sure to meet God halfway.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
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