I once was young and now I am old, but I have not seen a righteous person forsaken or his descendants begging for bread.
Psalms 37:25
‘Encourage’ and ‘exhort’ are two words we are familiar with in our Christian walk. I’m all for encouraging and being there for each other whether it’s in fellowship, online fora or any other social media platforms. 80% of my writing ministry is tagged as ’empowerment’. I’m a huge hope fanatic and my heart breaks the most for people who have lost hope in their lives, whoever they are. And more often than not, I’d love to hear this hope message replayed over and over again, for the benefit of others as well as myself. It’s no wonder that the greatest gifts are faith, hope and love. I’d like to go on and on about hope. However, rather than butter you up with a couple of xoxo’s, I’ll serve you up the real truth as to why you’re completely blind to God’s hand in your life.
#1 YOU FORGOT ABOUT TIMES AND SEASONS
Refer to my post breaking through seasons for more insight on this.
Ecc 3:8 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
#2 YOU HAVE A DISTORTED VIEW OF TRIALS
We sometimes expect a miracle in our most heart-wrenching circumstances but we tend to forget that they will come to an end. They always do. It’s easy to forget that our glory is eternal and it is unseen.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
#3 YOU FORGET WHO GOD IS
He won’t always work in the way or in the time we expect. He is not subject to time and space….. He is the Living God. Trust in His infinite wisdom. Trust in who God is.
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.
#4 YOUR HUMAN NATURE GETS IN THE WAY
The bit I want to focus on here though is the disease we suffer from called, ‘What’s in it for me?’ There always has to be some gain for us in whatever we do. And we want it here and now. Patience is not our strongest suit.
Jeremiah 17:8 The heart is deceitful above all things. Who can understand it?
Refer to Mark 7:21 for your heart’s mirror.
#5 YOUR NEIGHBOUR GOT A MIRACLE AND YOU DIDN’T
It’s noble to rejoice with your friends/colleagues in the face of answered prayers but its also foolish to expect the same miracle to happen to you. Covetousness, another one of our signature human traits, is utterly and completely disempowering. One reason for depression is unfair comparison with others and as Christians we are not immune. Rejoice and celebrate others’ achievements but guard your heart from envy.
Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body but envy rots the bones.
#6 YOU’VE MADE AN IDOL OUT OF YOUR NEED FOR GOD’S HAND
I’ll court controversy here by declaring that I have a problem with breakthroughs especially where one is so fixated. You want something so badly that your relationship with God is hinged on whether he brings it forth or not. The heart wants what the heart wants but can we trust it anyway?
Exodus 34:14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a Jealous God.
#7 YOU’VE UNDERESTIMATED THE TIME YOU SPEND WITH YOUR MAKER
The issue with us, as mentioned earlier is that we want stuff here and now. The healing, the baby, the job, the restored relationship, the miracle. We want it now. We forget that we need to sow the seeds of prayer and let the Holy Spirit intercede for us in order for them to bear fruit. We forget that our time spent with God is precious. We forget that his word is perfect and finer than gold (Psalms 119). Just because you’ve been praying and haven’t seen answers doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel. Far from it. Sow those seeds and let your patience be made perfect.
Psalms 73:28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
#8 YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT AN OAK OF SPLENDOUR IS
Kindly refer to my post beauty for ashes for more on this.
Isaiah 61:3 To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
#9 YOU’VE BEEN HANGING WITH THE WORLD
Hang with the world long enough and you’ll begin to see things from a world view. If you never want to understand what God’s will entails, conform to the world.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.
#10 YOU’VE ALLOWED DOUBT TO CREEP IN
Other than His son and our Savior Jesus Christ, I can’t think of anything else the Lord has so blessed us with more than the promises rife in His word. If Abraham was alive today he would punch you for thinking that God doesn’t keep his promises. Has God issued you with a father-of-nations promise yet you have no child? Hang in there. He NEVER goes back on His word.
Romans 4:20 Yet He (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.
Seek God’s heart; not His hand.
