Have you ever noticed how after receiving a Word from the Lord, one that's so alive that every fiber of your being is lit up by the promise, you find out that the circumstances the following day are all contradictory to what He just said? Like, God says today, "I will prosper you." And tomorrow you lose your job. Have you ever had moments like that?
It's so easy to give in to doubt. I mean, why not? Nothing in the natural is proving the Word of the Lord true. Everything's either a mess or headed towards the opposite direction of the divine revelation. The circumstances cause us to doubt; but even so, we have to keep on believing that God will do just what He said He will do and not give up. We have to decide that no matter what happens, we will be firm in our faith. Tell yourself, "If God said it, He will do it." If you have to say it aloud, please don't hold back. I do it. Sometimes, I have to hear the Word of the Lord to reassure me of what I believe in and I'm alone often so who'd speak the words but me? Faith comes by hearing, Paul writes in the book of Romans. It's literal hearing that he speaks of.
No matter what happens, even if it's all terrible and pitiful, God knows what He's doing and it'll all work out for you because it is written that all things work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28). Well, the key is loving God. If you love Him, you qualify for all the good things.
Today, as I was pondering on something that the Lord has me doing (I prayed many times asking if He's sure, and He is sure I have no doubt), I was actually thinking about quitting. One, it's taking a toll on my eyes. Two, it's very time consuming. Three, comparing it to a race, I'm falling behind and not by choice. I can't do anything about my speed. It's not a race, but just for comparison's sake let's call it that. Four, the requirements are monumental for someone like me. Et cetera. I have all the reasons to give up. If I quit today, I'd have valid reasons.
But, you know what the Lord told me? I'm only sharing to encourage you because it might speak to you, too. He spoke to my heart saying, "Daughter, it looks bad now, I know. I know you're tired. I know how hard you're working. I've seen your tears. I hear every sigh. I see your heartbreak. But, don't worry because I have your back. I know that you're doing all that you can do right now. Daughter, cast all the burdens on me. It was My idea, I'll take care of it. I gave you My Word, I will do it."
So I asked, "Lord, you said that You'll make me the head and not the tail, always on top and never at the bottom (Deut. 28:13). Then why am I at the bottom?"
And again He spoke to my heart, "Daughter, do you remember how I fulfilled My promise to Abraham and Sarah?" Then the story flashed through my mind. God didn't give Abraham a son when he and Sarah were capable of producing the end-result of the promise on their own. When they tried to take the matter into their own hands having Abraham get Hagar pregnant, it's called surrogate pregnancy today, the son that came out was far from the promised child. It did not turn out well. So after many more years of waiting, when they were no longer able, possibly no longer excited, God moved. Sarah was 90 years old when she gave birth to Isaac and Abraham was about 100 years old by then.
The moment we step out of our own abilities is the moment we step in into God's promise.
Why all the wait then? Why all the mess?
God is a God of glory. He does no less than glorious. If He gave us what He promised when all things are well, He wouldn't be glorified as much. We can even make the mistake of taking credit for what He did. But, if like Abraham and Sarah, the promise comes when we least expect it in ways we'd never imagined possible, it will be extravagant. Our current messy situations are actually stepping stones into the Lord's extravagant move. God is preparing the circumstances for the main event. You can agree that no preparation is neat and tidy, right? But when all is set and the time is right, it's going to be a blast. The curtains will be drawn and His glory will be revealed. He will do something that we can never claim for ourselves where we'll say, "God, it's all You."
Do you know why we receive a promise before the tests and trials come in? The answer is John 16:1.
"I have told you these things so that you won't abandon your faith."
God will make sure that we're holding on to Him before the storm comes, so that when it does hit, we won't let go of our faith. God will not send us to a battlefield with no hope of deliverance in our hearts. He's a loving Father. Just keep holding on because He will not fail His children. Those who trust in Him will never be put to shame.
