Hope for Today

Why do trials sometimes take long before breakthrough comes? Can’t it just happen quickly?

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Something that we as human beings are not good at – Patience. We live in a society where everything is instant and we tend to think that it is the same in the spirit, but God requires us to be patient in our trials, walking them out and not looking for a quick fix.

So, we have a problem, we don’t want to struggle and we don’t want to feel pain. The further we can stay away from it, the better for us. We always want to dodge getting hurt and we want things in our lives to be quiet and peaceful. Plainly said, we do not want to go through trials, ever. The word of God says that trials build our character and we will grow in our faith. Think about it, if we don’t have trials, will we ever need to trust God for anything?

My mother in law is an amazing lady. One thing I have learnt from her is to embrace life with all it’s curve balls and make the best out of something terrible. I remember one time my husband was on his way home. The highway got backed up due to a huge accident so he decided to take a detour off the highway down a muddy track with the four wheel drive car. He got stuck in mud. He phoned me to come lend a hand (I had the real 4×4), but I couldn’t assist him effectively. By that time it was dark and our little children were hungry and tired. We were cold and dirty from all the mud. We phoned my in-laws and they came to help. By the time they arrived we were annoyed and not very happy. My mother in-law jumped out of her car, took the children with such a big smile and told them what an awesome adventure we are having. Immediately all of our attitudes changed and we started enjoying the “adventure”. It wasn’t long and all were sorted out.

Isn’t that how it is? The moment you roll with it and not get bitter, things just get sorted out much quicker. The more we push against the uncomfortable situations we face, the more we become miserable and actually make it worse for ourselves.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

First of all, God says we should be happy when we face trials because it will produce unwavering faith. We all will agree that we as children of God need to grow more in faith, we do lack in trusting God in everything concerning ourselves. The part of the verse that says:”that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing“. This means that there may be nothing lacking to complete your character.

How we approach our trials will either make or break us.

One thing I believe is that our Lord is never taken by surprise by the trials and tribulations we have to face. He knew it was coming and He has all the resources available to us to get through it. I have learnt when trouble is in my camp to say to the Lord, Father, I am in this space and You know exactly what is going on and how I will get through this, what do I need to learn here? I also push against myself by choosing to change my attitude towards my situation, rather than grumbling and fighting against it I turn my attention towards the Lord and who He is.

There is such liberty that comes when we immediately surrender to the Lord’s will in our trials, when we immediately give Him permission to intervene and interfere. If we start kicking, screaming and throwing tantrums about what we have to face it usually takes much longer to get through.

My husband is truly a man of integrity and uprightness. He is such a loyal and committed person. Especially in the workplace, he loves working hard and putting effort and excellence into everything he does.

Years ago, he had been working for a company for about 9 years and all of a sudden they started giving him bad reviews. They said his work was brilliant, but they accused him of not being a team player and said that people don’t like him (I immediately heard the accuser of the bretheren, the devil, trying to break my husbands character down by saying he is not accepted and he is not good enough). So, when time came for his annual increase it was lower than the national inflation rate (the company would generally give all its employees at least an increase equal to the national inflation rate). I couldn’t understand this, he was a hard worker, he worked overtime without being paid and he was brilliant in his work.

My heart was very sore for him, but immediately I seeked God out and I waited on Him to show me what and how to pray. I had to go through all the Chapters in Psalms and I had to find all scriptures on God vindicating us, God silencing the mouth of the lier (the devil), God bringing justice, God bringing judgment on the enemy and God delivering us. I highlighted all those scriptures and every morning in my prayer time I would start proclaiming these scriptures over my husbands situation.

3 Months past and they did another review – again, the same report. I was really not happy, I had been praying everyday, diligently, pushing against the onslaught. The Lord’s response – “just keep at it”. I did, every morning, praying and proclaiming the same scriptures over and over. God showed me that I was busy hammering at a huge wall and as I keep at it, hammering at the same place the wall will start crumbling. It meant that I had to patiently endure until something happened.

I am not saying that this is easy. It requires you to find a rhythm, like running a long and far race – you can’t sprint it! Most of all you have to constantly choose to keep your attitude right.

After a year (praying the same scriptures), it was increase time again. Nothing! The same – lower than inflation. I was tired and I felt very bad for my husband. I wrestled with the Lord about this. His reply;” So, are you going to back off because the enemy is in your face, frightening you?” That was all I needed, I said ok Father what else can I add to my prayer? I started blessing and praying for the people in authority’s hearts.

It was after a year and 9 months of prayer: during a one-on-one his manager reviewed the latest reviews. His team members were now saying what an amazing person he is; how they loved working with him. The report started changing. Almost 2 years had passed and another company (out of the blue – sent by the Lord) approached my husband and offerred him a job. God told us what salary to ask for and it was much higher than what he used to get. They agreed and my husband was appointed at the new company.

God has given him much more than what he had before. I asked the Lord about what he was busy doing in my husbands life in that time. God was testing his heart, that even though when they were raising against his character, he stayed true to who he was, he did not change himself to fit into their molds and even though it was tough going to work daily, having bad vibes in the office, he still gave his very best.

Two years may seem really long to you. But I can tell you our faith is much stronger and the Lord has truly polished some of our rough edges. We have learnt to trust only in the Lord and His Word; to stand, to not give up even if there is no change; to keep our integrity; to not lash out when people are damaging our character and to patiently wait until something happens.

Beloved, your trial may just be starting, or you have been walking it for many years. You might not see what you have learnt or how things will change, but the Lord is with you in this fire. He may not neccesarily stop it immediately, but you can be assured, He will take you through.

Isaiah 43:1-2 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Beloved, pace yourself by praying what you feel God is showing you. Don’t try to speed the process up with your own ideas. This is a marathon, it’s not a sprint. Surrender (give over to God’s will and way) to what God wants to teach you and give Him permission to interfere in your situation because He knows what must take place. You will get through. Seasons do change, you will not stay in that place forever. Most importantly, if you have been praying and proclaiming and nothing has changed, or you cannot see anything positive: when you are prayed up – don’t deviate (trying to follow your own ideas), stay the course by standing on God’s word.

STAND, HOLD YOUR GROUND!

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  

Let us pray:

Father, I am in the fire. I ask, as you were with Daniel in the fire, that You will be next to me. I acknowledge that You have all the answers and You have all the resources I need to walk through this trial. I ask that You will download to me that which I need to overcome and to walk in Heavenly wisdom. Father, I do not have the answers, but You do. Please guide my steps. Please guide me to be effective in prayer. Most of all, please show me what it is that I must learn. I surrender Father, I am letting go and I am letting You intervene. You have full permission to let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen and amen.

I Pray that God will strengthen you with power in your innermost being through His spirit, so that you can run the race with patient endurance in Jesus name.

Here is a song for you to listen to.