“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” — Matthew 16:26 (NLT)
I was reminded the other day of the story of the driver in San Francisco looking for a parking space (futility at its worst!) She offered up a prayer, “Lord, if you show me a spot I will volunteer more time at our church’s food pantry”. When a spot presented itself she said, “Never mind, Lord, I found one myself!”.
It’s human nature to try to negotiate or bargain our way out of difficult situations. We promise God that if He intervenes, we’ll make dramatic changes in our lives: “Lord, if You just fix this, I’ll never do it again!” or “God, if You bless me with this promotion, I’ll give more to the church.” While bargaining may feel like faith, it often reflects our struggle to trust God fully and surrender to His will.
“And this man made a vow to the Lord: ‘If you will hand the Ammonites over to me, I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph.’” — Judges 11:30-31 (NLT)
In this story, Jephthah attempts to bargain with God by making a vow. He assumes his promise will compel God to act. However, this vow leads to devastating consequences when his daughter becomes the subject of his promise (Judges 11:34-40).
God does not require us to bargain with Him because His love and blessings are not earned through our efforts or negotiations. Instead, He invites us to trust Him fully, knowing He is sovereign and good.
The reality is that God’s will is not for sale. We cannot bribe Him to make His will conform to ours.
“But who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” — Romans 9:20 (NLT)
Bargaining with God often stems from a lack of trust in His plan. We think we know what’s best, but God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Instead of negotiating, God calls us to align our hearts with His will. Bargaining reveals a heart that seeks control rather than surrender. God desires our trust, even when we don’t understand His ways.
As usual, it is always instructive to look at Jesus’ approach to these kinds of situations.
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” — Luke 22:42 (NLT)
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus faces immense suffering, yet He doesn’t bargain with God. Instead, He surrenders completely to the Father’s will. Jesus’ prayer is a powerful example of faith and trust, even in the face of difficulty. True faith is not about securing a desired outcome but about trusting God regardless of the outcome. We need to remember that God’s grace is always sufficient for the moment and the circumstances — a lesson that finally penetrated Paul’s consciousness:
“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
When Paul pleaded with God to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” God did not grant his request. Instead, God reminded Paul of the sufficiency of His grace. Bargaining with God often leads to frustration, but surrender opens the door to peace and strength through His grace.
God’s grace is not a consolation prize; it is His gift that empowers us to thrive in every circumstance.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” — Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study