The Ballestero Blog

Got any Rivers you think are Uncrossable?

Got any Mountains you can’t Tunnel through?

God Specializes in things called Impossible.

And He will do what no other Power can do!

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Did God Let You Down?

God let you down? So, you’ve decided not go back to church because you are disappointed in Him?

First of all, I am very sorry for the pain you’ve had to live through. I’m sure I haven’t lived through the disappointment and pain you have. You certainly have my prayers.

It makes me nervous though and it kind of frightens me, to hear people make comments made about having their faith shaken. What do they mean, shaken? Shaken, as in not believing in God anymore?

I am not so certain that I am comfortable using that phrase or term. If you do, that’s your business.

• I know of people that no longer go to church because a loved one died despite much fasting and prayer.
• Their disappointment because of unanswered prayers brought disillusionment to their soul.
• Why? How could this happen?
• How can there be a God?
• How could God let this happen?
• They backslid because their ‘faith’ was shaken.
• They quit church because they got mad at God.

The bottom line is that WHATEVER He does, or allows to happen, He’s is STILL a good God! He didn’t let you down. You are most surely saddened by the loss of your loved one. But God has never let anyone down, especially you.

I am not a Bible scholar. I really don’t have all of life’s answers. But I am a fellow traveller in this Christian Journey with you and I would like to share some precious truths about the Lord. Please indulge me.

Abraham – The Father Of The Faithful

Even though he earned and was given the highest title of faith among believers, “The Father Of The Faithful,” he died without ever receiving the promise.

Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

• He staggered not.
• He didn’t waver or doubt.
• He never faltered.

Yet he never got to see what he had hoped to see. Did that mean God didn’t love Abraham? Did that mean God let him down? You be the judge.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

We all have lived long enough to see the faith of friends tested because of unanswered prayers. Does unanswered prayer mean that God doesn’t love them? Did God let them down? Absolutely not!

Somehow we have it in our minds that Jesus must heal everyone, because He is a healer. Can He heal everyone? Sure. Does He? No.

Remember The Man At The Pool Of Bethesda?

John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

John 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Get the picture? Scores of people lay around the pool waiting for the waters to be troubled by an angel so they can get their miracle. Jesus enters unannounced and seeks out just one man, heals him, and then leaves.

It is almost equivalent to Jesus walking into a hospital, healing one man and then leaving. How did He choose him? Why him? What about all the other sick folks? Did they get healed too? The Bible makes no mention if they did.

The Other Side Of Faith  – Hebrews 11

In our minds, everyone who has faith gets healed and or delivered. Actually, according to these verses, that is not so.

Did they have faith? Absolutely. Did they die without being healed or delivered? Sadly, (from man’s point of view.) yes.

For thirty-four verses in this chapter the beloved patriarchs are honored and heralded as role models. They were people of faith.

Then the writer of Hebrews takes a deeper look at the faithful and shows that not everyone that believed got their name mentioned. Not everyone had a glorious testimony of healing or deliverance. Not everyone got to live to a ripe old age. Some endured unspeakable pain and discomfort. Some were mistreated and abused. Some lived in dire circumstances.

Yet they all died in faith holding fast to their confidence that God was still God and still in charge.

Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Hebrews 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

Hebrews 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

There is no fairy tale ending here that our flesh can see, but the last chapter has not been written for them or us. That chapter will be glorious.

Paul The Apostle To The Gentiles.

Even with Paul’s miraculous ministry and gifts of healing, he was not able to see everyone he prayed for get well. Trophimus remained sick even though he had been prayed for. Paul even had a thorn in his own flesh that God chose not to remove.

2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

When reality sets in, we see that, we can’t make God heal us or someone else. We can only pray. But if our prayers are not answered, we should never put our soul in jeopardy by making rash statement about God. Nor should we ever withdraw ourselves from His house.

Job Never Made Stupid Statements About God During His Trial.

Even though Job went through the horrible nightmare of losing his beloved children, all his wealth and then his health. He never let that sway him from his confidence in God. He never blamed the Lord foolishly.

Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Remember this. Job was God’s favorite person in the whole world. He even bragged on him to Lucifer, twice. Yet Job endured the greatest losses any man could endure.

• Did God hate him? No.
• Had God rejected him? No.
• Was God punishing him? No.
• Was Job’s life still in God’s hands? Yes.
• Was God mindful of where Job “was at”? Yes.

The Devil Might Try To Tell You That:

• God hates you,
• This is God’s punishment,
• You have sinned, that’s why you are sick.
• God couldn’t love you, letting you go through all of this.

God has never let any of us down. I fear that the enemy of your soul would attempt to paint that picture for you. But it is just not true.

No matter how difficult your days may be. Remember, “Deuteronomy 33:25 … and as thy days, so shall thy strength be”. God will give you enough strength to make it through the day.

My Dad, Carl Ballestero

I stood in the Ontario Mills Mall in Ontario, CA with my Dad on my arm. Alzheimer’s had ravished his health and his mind. He was hanging on to me for support as we took a short walk down a hall. Dad was in his last year of that horrible disease. He tottered slowly beside me.

I observed a man who appeared to be 10 years older than my Father’s 74. The older man was wearing a muscle shirt, a speedo, and was smoking a big cigar. He had a young 30 something dishwater blond honey on his arm. He also was cussing a blue streak.

I got mad. I got upset enough that I talked out loud to God. I said, “God, how come you are letting that old buzzard live with good health? He hates you. He is using your name in vain.

“If my Father had that old man’s strength, just think what a blessing he could still be to the work of God.

“You let my Dad, who loves You get sick and that old buzzard that hates You, enjoy good health. It’s not fair.”

I knew I was out of line immediately. I knew I would have to repent. I also knew better than to question God. I was pastor. I knew better. Yet the son in me was trying to defend my dying Father.

That’s when the Lord reminded me of John Chapter 21.

Simon Peter Versus John The Beloved

Here’s The Heart Of The Matter.

John 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

John 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

How could a miserable death glorify God? Jesus prepares Peter, telling him that his future would not be pretty. He then concluded with two words. “Follow Me.”

Knowing that Peter would not be thrilled, Jesus announced His only request. He was saying to Peter, “No matter what happens in the future, just be faithful to Me.”

Peter couldn’t deal with his bad news. He turned and looked at John. He asked, “What about John?”

Peter began comparing his situation with his friend. It didn’t seem fair that he got a bad deal and John didn’t.

Jesus said, “If I let him live 2,000 years, what is that to you? All I am asking of you is to be faithful to Me.

John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

John 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

John 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

No matter what happens in this life, just keep being faithful.

Dear Reader

Now, go back to church. That’s where you need to be. Turn your heartache over to Him and put it all on the altar. Nothing ever gets worked out when you stay away from His presence. You won’t solve any of your problems staying home. He loves you. Let Him comfort you.

I remember the last song I ever saw my father touched by before he died. Bro. Charles Adkins was singing an old song. Daddy came out of the Alzheimer fog long enough for tears to run down his cheek. I saw that as I stood beside him. I cried too. Bro. Adkins sang:

“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”

By Ira Forest Stamphill

I don’t know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day.

I don’t borrow from it’s sunshine,

For it’s skies may turn to gray.

I don’t worry o’er the future,

For I know what Jesus said,

And today I’ll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,

I don’t seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,

And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev’ry step is getting brighter,

As the golden stairs I climb;

Ev’ry burden’s getting lighter;

Ev’ry cloud is silver lined.

There the sun is always shining,

There no tear will dim the eyes,

At the ending of the rainbow,

Where the mountains touch the sky.