A Time I Almost Interfered With God
I’ll never forget the day I nearly destroyed what God was doing in my life because I was impatient. It was a Monday afternoon, just after a heated ministry board meeting. I had been trusting God for a breakthrough in our church property dispute, a case that had dragged in court for two years. The legal battle had drained us emotionally, financially, and spiritually. But more than that, it exposed something in me I wasn’t proud of: a subtle tendency to want to “help” God make things move faster.
That afternoon, I found myself on the phone with someone who had “connections.” They said they could influence the court clerk, sway some things, speed up the outcome. For a moment, it felt like an open door. I even convinced myself it was divine favor. But the Holy Spirit arrested me with one gentle whisper: “If you touch this battle, you’ll have to finish it without Me.”
I hung up the call. My heart was racing. But I knew what God meant. When God is fighting for you, you don’t manipulate the outcome. You wait. You trust. You be still.
Manipulation is a Sign of Distrust
I’ve learned that when we try to manipulate situations, be it relationships, opportunities, or outcomes, it’s often rooted in fear. We’re afraid that if we don’t step in, things won’t go our way. But what that really reveals is a lack of trust in God’s timing and sovereignty.
As a preacher, I’ve seen this in counseling sessions time and time again. A sister forces her way into a relationship, even though the red flags are clear, because she’s tired of waiting. A brother fakes a prophecy to prove he still has a “spiritual gift,” because doors are no longer opening like they used to. A church leader schemes to be noticed because their season of obscurity feels too long.
But beloved, the moment you start controlling outcomes, you step out of faith and into flesh. And the flesh will always lead you down a path of frustration, guilt, and spiritual stagnation.
The Wilderness is Where Stillness is Learned
One thing the Lord taught me is this: stillness is not passivity. It’s a posture of surrendered trust. And trust is most tested in the wilderness.
When Israel stood before the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army charging behind them, they were trapped. They had no weapons, no army, no escape route. It was in that moment that Moses told them, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today” (Exodus 14:13, NKJV).
Notice he didn’t say, “Start swimming,” or “Negotiate with Pharaoh.” He said, “Stand still.” And what happened next? The impossible. The miraculous. The unexplainable.
Sometimes God allows us to be cornered, not to destroy us, but to reveal how much we trust Him when there’s nothing left to do but believe.
God’s Integrity Doesn’t Need Your Interference
A friend told me that there was a season in their church where God tested them in this very area.
They were praying and fasting for financial provision for an outreach crusade. It was a tight window. They had a week to raise funds for sound equipment, transport, and feeding. He remembers waking up one morning with an idea: “Why don’t we take a short-term loan? God will surely provide before the interest hits.”
He almost did it.
But then he remembered something the Lord had told him during a previous fast:
“Don’t use your ideas to replace My instructions.”
So he waited. They continued praying, worshipping, preaching, even when it seemed foolish. Two days before the crusade, someone they hadn’t spoken to in over a year called. He said, “The Lord placed it on my heart to sponsor your entire outreach. I’ve already wired the funds.”
No manipulation. No stress. Just faith.
God showed them that day that His name is on the line when He gives a promise. You don’t need to lie, twist things, exaggerate, or bribe your way through. His integrity is strong enough to hold your destiny.
But What If It’s Delayed?
That’s the hardest part, isn’t it? Waiting. Being still when everyone else is moving. Staying faithful when others are making shortcuts. Watching people get ahead while you’re stuck in “process.”
I’ve been there.
I watched people I mentored rise faster than I did. I’ve seen churches that started years after us build cathedrals while we struggled. I’ve buried my face in the carpet and cried, “Lord, have You forgotten me?”
But He hadn’t.
And He reminded me of David. Anointed as king in his youth, but had to wait for years—dodging spears, hiding in caves, weeping in Ziklag, before he sat on the throne. David didn’t manipulate his way into kingship. Even when he had the chance to kill Saul, he didn’t. Why? Because he understood that if you have to force it, it’s not from God.
The Fruit of Stillness is Peace
One of the most beautiful things about surrendering the outcome to God is the peace that comes with it. Real peace. The kind that doesn’t make sense. The kind that allows you to sleep in the middle of a storm because you know Who holds the boat.
Today, I’ve become slower to react and quicker to pray. I no longer panic when things don’t go my way. I’ve seen the faithfulness of God too many times to doubt Him now. Yes, the timeline may be different. The route may look longer. But if God is leading, I’d rather walk slowly in His will than run ahead into ruin.
A Final Word to Someone Who’s Tempted to Force It
Dear friend, maybe you’re reading this right now on the edge of a decision. Maybe there’s pressure on you to “make something happen.” Maybe people are mocking you, or your inner voice is screaming, “Do something!”
But hear me as a servant of God who has walked this path:
You don’t have to manipulate it. You don’t have to control it. You don’t have to fake it. God is not deaf. He’s not blind. He’s not late. He’s strategic. He’s wise. And He’s working.
Be still. Not because there’s nothing happening. Be still because there is much happening behind the scenes—more than your eyes can see and your heart can grasp.
When God fights your battles, results don’t come by force. They come by favor.
And favor doesn’t require manipulation.
It just requires surrender.
