Before You Call: Discovering God’s Preemptive Love
Have you ever felt like God was distant, unresponsive, or uncaring about your struggles? Many have experienced doubt, wondering if our prayers are even heard. But what if I told you that God not only hears us, but He often answers before we even call out to Him? This profound truth is a source of comfort and security, assuring us of His preemptive love.
This profound truth is beautifully captured in Isaiah 65:24: “Before they call, I will answer. While they are still speaking, I will hear.” This promise challenges our perception of God’s timing and involvement in our lives.
Consider the story of a mother whose 2.5-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Amid this dark and trying time, she felt betrayed and abandoned by God. However, months later, while reading her Bible, she stumbled upon a verse she had highlighted just one month before her daughter’s diagnosis. Isaiah 51:3 spoke of comfort, compassion, and turning wastelands into gardens like Eden – her daughter’s name. This discovery was a powerful reminder that God had known what was coming and had prepared her with a promise, even before she knew she would need it.
This theme of God’s preemptive action is woven throughout Scripture and our lives. Take the account of Peter’s denial of Jesus. While we often focus on Peter’s failure, we miss the beautiful foresight of Christ. Before Peter ever stumbled, Jesus had already made plans to restore him. He told the disciples, “But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Even in predicting Peter’s denial, Jesus was already extending grace and reconciliation.
These stories challenge us to shift our perspective. Instead of asking, “Where is God in my struggle?” we might ask, “How has God already been working on my behalf?” This shift in perspective can empower us and fill us with hope, knowing that God’s preemptive love has the power to transform our understanding of our circumstances.
But how can we trust that God is ahead, especially when life feels dark and uncertain? The key lies in our relationship with Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Developing this trust requires intentional time spent with God. In the quiet moments of prayer and Scripture reading, we often see glimpses of His preemptive work in our lives. As we cultivate this relationship, we become more attuned to His voice and movement in our circumstances.
Consider starting your day by inviting God into it. Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my request before you and wait expectantly.” This practice of morning devotion isn’t about earning God’s favour; it’s about positioning ourselves to recognise His presence and provision throughout our day.
It’s important to note that God’s preemptive love doesn’t always mean an absence of struggle. Life can still be tough, and we may face situations where we don’t understand God’s plan. Even in these moments, we can hold onto the promise that He goes before us in the ultimate sense.
Jesus said in John 14:1-4, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.” This promise of eternal hope reminds us that even when our earthly circumstances are challenging, God has prepared a future for us that is free from tears, death, or pain (Revelation 21).
Life’s journey can sometimes feel like navigating a dark, underground cavern – slippery, uncertain, and seemingly heading downhill. But just as explorers who persevere through challenging terrain might suddenly find themselves before a breathtaking waterfall, we too might discover something miraculous that only God could orchestrate if we keep moving forward in faith.
The Hebrew word for darkness, “chosek,” also means obscurity. Our circumstances may obscure how God has gone before us, but it doesn’t mean He isn’t working. His rescue, provision, and love are all ahead, even if we can’t see them yet.
So, what does this mean for us practically?
1. Cultivate a relationship with God through regular prayer and Bible reading. This helps us recognise His voice and see His hand in our lives. For instance, you might notice a verse that speaks directly to your current situation, or you might feel a sudden sense of peace in the midst of a storm, both of which are signs of God’s preemptive love.
2. When facing challenges, remember that God may have already created the answer to your problem before you even knew you had one.
3. Look for evidence of God’s preemptive love in your past experiences. How has He prepared you for the difficulties you’ve faced?
4. Trust that even when you can’t see or understand God’s plan, He works on your behalf.
5. Hold onto the promise of eternal hope. God has gone before us to prepare an eternal home where all our current struggles will be resolved.
As we navigate life’s ups and downs, may we find comfort and strength in knowing that our God is not reactive but proactive in His love for us? He goes before us, preparing the way, offering grace before we stumble, and extending hope before we despair. In the words of Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you.”
So take heart, dear friend. Whatever you’re facing today, God has already gone before you. Your call to Him is simply catching up to the answer He’s already set in motion. As you go about your day, be mindful of His preemptive love. Look for His hand in the seemingly ordinary moments, and trust that He is always working for your good.
