Learning to Argue with God and Win

When was the last time you argued with God? Argue. You know, that’s when He says something and you disagree. In the past I knew the difference between arguing with my wife and arguing with God in that He didn’t go past the first two go-rounds. God doesn’t repeat Himself He just lets me talk until I run out of words. It’s the deafening silence that tells me the argument is over.

“Dalton, do this.”

“Lord, why would I do that? I don’t think so. What do you mean?” 

Silence.

“Now wait a minute Lord, come back here. You were talking to me. You know I don’t want to have to do that. Lord? Are You there? Lord….”

Silence.

Oh, how I would love to think that He wins when that happens, but just giving in is no win for either of us. Giving in is not the same as Him winning because we will revisit the issue until I let Him win rightfully. Of course He wins, He’s God. But, if I choose to yield first instead of going on and on incessantly, then it can be a win for both of us. My surrender pleases Him and me.

My big argument with God started late last year. For seven years I labored with God to birth and grow a ministry that He inspired and loved. Then reaching what looked to many like the beginning of a whole new exciting level of growth, we peaked. Just two months after He provided the cash to purchase the 20 acres He promised; the bottom began to drop out. It was barely noticeable at first, but then it just started falling away.

We ran the numbers and realized that we couldn’t sustain the budget. My doubts ended when we had to lay off our staff; and then our volunteers and even some key team members stopped calling. They were facing personal challenges that caused them to have to pull back on their investment of time and energy in the ministry. They didn’t want to but their choice was simple; it was either this or that, but not both this and that.

And our ministry was that.

By Easter morning I could no longer avoid the conversation with God. On Easter Sundays my wife and I attend two or three worship services with church families we have worked closely with during the year. We were at the last service late that morning and I silently stood with my eyes closed, lost in the praise and worship, when God spoke.

“Dalton let it go. I don’t want you to worry about this anymore. You don’t have to be responsible for the retreat center any more. It’s not your problem. I got it.”

“But Lord! We have prayed for your Spirit to walk freely around the place. You remember the people who tell how they sense Your Presence - just driving on the property? What will happen if...”

This time He didn’t let me finish; He interrupted me, “Dalton. It’s just dirt and stucco!”

Silence...

And I was the one who was silent.

He had the last word. I was through arguing.

Then I began to sense weight falling off of my shoulders. I looked around and there was nothing on the floor behind me, but I felt lighter. The praise time was over and I was sitting in my chair listening to the message but there was music going on inside of me, gentle praise and joy. I began to sense peace, the kind of peace I had not experienced in months.

The point of surrender is the beginning of peace. You don’t have to argue to get to surrender, but God is willing to argue if necessary to get you there. To Him it’s worth the argument if you end up with peace.

Seven months later the music is still playing inside me. The Lord has provided a couple who want to buy the property to establish and operate a prayer retreat center in our region. They found our property to be perfect for fulfilling the God-dream they’ve had for twenty years.

You can win with Him if you stay in the conversation. I just recommend you surrender early, and “...be still and KNOW that I am God”.

Dalton Jantzen and his wife Vicki minister side by side through 30 60 100 Ministries, Inc. providing coaching and equipping tools for servant leaders across North and South America, Europe and SE Asia. Their focus is to equip believers to challenge their culture without reservation and make common Christian complacency obsolete.