Faith Believes BEFORE it Receives

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIoKAWDtVyk   
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OlQxFHO-b4

 (Above are links to testimonies of women being healed of infertility after standing on God's Word.)

            

Faith Believes BEFORE it Receives

 

           Many of us know and can tell the stories written in the New Testament about Jesus healing the lame, restoring the eyesight to the blind, or healing the lepers.  But did you know the first recorded healing mentioned in the Word of God involved barren wombs?  Abraham and Sarah couldn’t have children, but God blessed them with Isaac even in their old age.  Isaac and his wife Rebekah struggled to have children until God blessed them with twins!  Jacob and Rachel were also barren, but God healed them and we can’t forget Hannah who after many long years of infertility, God healed her and blessed her with six children.  

            If you are like me, you sometimes read the miracles in the Bible and think of it as just history, but never interpret the message in relation to it happening to you.  Or you hear modern day testimonies of healing like the ones shown in the above video and think of them as fairy tales…something not attainable for you.   But if you want healing in your body, then it’s important to believe that the miracles happening to others could also happen to you if you have a confident expectation (hope) and faith in God’s ability and willingness to heal you.  God has proven that He cares for barren women; He gives life when life is “impossible,” and He can heal any life that He has created.  He is your personal Doctor…free of charge.  But do you believe? 

            Let’s look at a woman in the Bible who had hope and faith Jesus would heal her despite never seeing a healing personally; but only learning of Jesus and the testimonies from others.  In Mark 5:25-34, there is a story of a woman who was plagued with an issue of blood for twelve years.  She was desperate and spent all of the money she had on Doctors to get well, yet she was no better but only grew worse.  She was hopeless.  But when she heard about Jesus and His ability and willingness to heal ALL who came to Him, she began to say, “If only I may touch His clothes, I will be healed.”  She went to Jesus and pressed through the crowd to touch Him.  She had her heart set on getting to Him, and nothing could stop her.  She was relentless.  When she got to Jesus, she touched Him, and immediately healing power flowed through her body.  She was healed.   Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”  When the woman came and fell down before Him He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace, your suffering is over.”         

This woman knew a lot about suffering.  She suffered from her sickness, suffered from the doctors and suffered from having one disappointment after another.  She not only lost all of her money on medical treatments, but she had possibly lost all of her relationships due to being a social outcast (she was considered unclean).  After twelve long and lonely years of hurting she must have lost all hope in ever seeing her situation changing.  Perhaps you are now where this woman was and also feeling hopeless. But chin up; hope is not gone and Jesus’ healing power is available to you like it was to this woman.  Her hope was restored when she learned about Jesus (His compassion, kindness, and healing touch) and the testimonies of others.  She took the word she heard and visualized herself as healed.  She said, “If only I may touch his clothes, I will (not maybe) be healed.” She had a confident expectation and never doubted that the man she had only heard of could and would heal her.  She believed in her own healing before ever having proof of it.  Faith believes before it receives.

            This story demonstrates how faith is the hand that reaches to God and releases His power over your situation.  Jesus told this woman, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.”  If it wasn’t for this woman believing what she heard and reaching out her hand in faith to touch Jesus, she wouldn’t have been healed.  Do you need healing in your body today?  Maybe you need emotional or spiritual healing?  It’s important to know that receiving your healing from God is not about you begging Him or wondering if it’s available to you; it’s simply you believing, reaching out and grabbing a hold of what is already yours.  Reach out your hand today and see your healing through the eyes of faith.  

You can reach out and lay hold of the healing power of God’s Word in the same way this woman reached out and laid hold of Jesus’ garment.  As you believe and hold tight to His Word in faith, healing will flow into you.  But, God’s Word is like taking medicine for a headache.  Advil will not do you any good if you just place it on top of your head and the same is true if you just know God’s Word but don’t believe it. 

A lot of times people will believe God for their healing, but when they don’t “feel” any change they question God and let go of their faith.  Your healing may not come immediately like it did for the woman with the issue of blood.  God’s Word sometimes works in the same way doctors will prescribe refills in order to remove your sickness.  Keep believing, speaking and meditating on it until your healing is complete.  Never give up on your quest for healing.  The woman with the issue of blood must have wanted to accept her sickness as her lot in life, but when she heard of Jesus, she believed and wouldn’t give up until she touched Him and was healed. You must also believe through faith, be persistent and never give up until you receive your healing.  It’s a promise from God for you to be healed so hold tight to this promise and never let go.  Remember faith believes BEFORE it receives.

“My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them.   Let them penetrate deep into your heart,for they bring life to those who find them,  and healing to their whole body.”

Proverbs 4:20-22 (NIV)

It's more than just a coffee cup...

Do you ever sometimes wish you had reassurance from God that He is always with you and that He was listening and even taking careful notes of your every prayer?  Yes, I know scriptures say that He will never leave or forsake you and that He always hears your prayers, but do you ever really wish He himself would tell you?  I’m talking about God coming down from the clouds with a flash of lightning and BAM!, tell you everything is okay and that He still knows what you need and is working on your behalf?  I know I do. 

Today I received a gift from Megan Schimp who is an amazing friend...it was God’s version of coming down from the clouds with a flash of lightning and BAM!, giving me reassurance in every area of my life where I had doubts.  I had doubts all week wondering if I was helping others through H.O.P.E. and if I should have even started this ministry.  But her card, the card I know God told her to give me, erased every doubt I had about myself.  Her card said this…

You are a woman of strength—

More than a conqueror,

able to do all things,

a warrior and princess in the kingdom of God.

You are called to persevere,

to minister, to pray, to change the world.

The Lord has given you all you need and made you

all you need to be for victory.

So go forth, strong sister,

with a smile on your face,

a heart full of hope,

and a determination to never stop

until you receive every blessing God has for you.

Wow!  Perfect timing!  As I read what she wrote in the card, she explained that the gift in the bag (which I hadn’t seen yet) made her think of me and she knew I had to have it.  She said, “so when you drink your coffee it will be a reminder to just be still and know He’s got it!”  After reading that sentence I immediately began sobbing in my car in the parking lot of Wal-Mart (that’s where I was when I decided to open the card and gift).  I didn’t even have to look in the bag to know what gift was inside.  You see, several weeks ago, I was in Hobby Lobby purchasing some cards and small gifts to give to the women who come to the H.O.P.E. group and I spotted a coffee cup that I absolutely loved.  It first caught my attention because it was my favorite color (soft green) and it had a bird on the front.  I LOVE BIRDS.  But I loved it even more when I read the scripture… "Be still and know I am God.”  The coffee cup was $10 (I think) which doesn’t seem like a lot, but I had already been to Target (enough said), spent a fortune at the Vineyard and I was already purchasing a lot of cards at Hobby Lobby, so I didn’t have the extra money to buy something for myself.  I walked all around Hobby Lobby debating on the coffee cup before deciding to put it back on the shelf.   I wanted the coffee cup and God knew it too so He used Megan to give it to me. 

I believe God wanted me to have this coffee cup as a reminder that He will give me the desires of my heart right down to the simplest of things…He knows one of my greatest desires is to have a family and every day He wants me to just look at the coffee cup and remember to be still, know that He is God, and soon He will give me that desire as well. 

                Thank you Megan for being so obedient and letting God use you to not only encourage me to keep persevering with the H.O.P.E. ministry, but also that He loves to fulfill the desires of our hearts…even the ones we think are small.   Never be afraid to let God use you to help someone else who needs hope…

  Note:  I want to emphasize God will not give you all the desires of your heart if they might be harmful to you or others .  Your desires should be aligned with the desires of God's heart.  For example, your desire to rob a bank and be rich is obviously not God's desire for your life :) 

ROAD TRIP! Are you starting to get car sick?

Road Trip!

Are you starting to get a little “car sick” on your journey to the Promise Land?

                                    

                God has promised me (and you) through His Word that I can be healed and fruitful—but as I travel on my “road trip” to my Promised Land, I often find myself “car sick” with worry, discouragement, and just feeling restless.  I was worried about the noises my car (body) was making or the bumps and potholes in the road.  I was constantly checking my gas tank thinking, “Am I going to be able to make it?”  I knew God wanted me to “be still”, relax, and enjoy the “road trip”, but how can you do that when you want something so bad?  How can you just relax?  How can you just “be still”? I was constantly asking God for peace not just because I wanted it, but also because I knew that is what He wanted for me.  But despite all of my “asking” I still never had peace--- that’s when God asked me three questions… 

            The first question He asked me was, “Whose radio station are you listening to?”  I thought about this for a minute and realized every time I was worried, discouraged or feeling anxious I was listening to the lies of the enemy and relying too much on my feelings.  I was letting the enemy remind me of my doctor’s diagnosis and that because nothing “seemed” to be changing that I should just give up.  But I needed to quit channel surfing and keep the dial set on God’s radio station.  What feeds you, affects you.  The doctors have their report but God’s report is the only one that matters.  I need to always listen for His voice and feed on His faithfulness, His willingness and ability to care for my every problem and remember that He is always good. I also need to “sing” the same songs He sings.  The greatest weapon I have against the enemy is speaking, singing, and meditating on the Word of God because I stab the enemy and wound him every time I speak the Word out loud.

The second question God asked was, “Are you reading the road map?”  My response was, “Of course I am!”  But then He asked, “Whose road map are you reading?  Mine or yours?”  Many times I would find myself on “rough roads” or even in wrong towns (situations) and blame God for my miserable road trip.  But I was the one to blame because I was reading MY road map and not His.  God’s word is your road map in life and Joshua 1:8 says that when you study and obey it, you will be prosperous in ALL that you do.

            Even if you are reading God’s road map, it will not do you any good if you don’t obey His road signs (commandments).  I have learned that just reading and knowing God’s Word will not do me any good if I am not in obedience to them.  I knew what the Bible said about gaining peace, but I wasn’t obeying the road signs to obtain it.  For example, I kept ignoring His YIELD signs whenever I began over analyzing my situation or crying out, “Why, God, Why?!” I was ignoring the YIELD to God’s wisdom sign in Proverbs 3:5 in which He tells me to trust in Him and not lean on my own understanding or Proverbs 3:7 which says to not be wise in my own eyes.  Part of trusting God is having unanswered questions so I needed to learn to get comfortable not knowing the answers to all my “why’s” and just trust that God is handling my situation.  Releasing the “why’s” has brought me more peace than I could have ever imagined.  

Another YEILD sign I kept ignoring was the sign that said YIELD to God’s timing.  If your road trip has been anything like mine, you are probably thinking it will never end and you are becoming weary.  You might be crying out “When, God, When?!”  1 Peter 5:6 says for me to humble myself under God’s mighty power and He WILL lift me up in the RIGHT time.  This verse tells me to first humble myself.  Humbling oneself means to yield or surrender. I would say that I had humbled myself under God but every time I worried, became anxious, or began planning my own steps without God’s guidance, I was telling Him He wasn’t capable of doing it for me.  Secondly, the verse tells me that once I have humbled myself (example: surrendered my idea of “perfect timing”), He WILL (not maybe) lift me up in the RIGHT time (remember this is His right time and not mine).

There was one more YIELD sign I kept ignoring.  I believe as humans we just want to “do something” whenever we have a problem.  We want to take control and make our own plans on how to “fix it”.  I kept noticing that I was becoming anxious and weary from all of my excessive planning, thinking, and “doing” in order to solve my problems.  Feelings of anxiety or weariness are not from God; therefore, I knew He was not in my plans and that I must be ignoring another important road sign.  Jeremiah 29:11 is a road sign that says YIELD to God’s plans.  I knew and even had memorized this “road sign”, but because I was constantly finding myself feeling anxious and weary, it became obvious to me I was in disobedience to God’s will for my life.  I have NO CLUE what my future holds, but Jeremiah 29:11 says God has plans for me to have an awesome future.  So why is it hard for me (and maybe you) to let him handle everything? I am not smart enough to run my own life or make my own plans (and neither are you) so when I am facing a problem, I just need to stop frantically planning, thinking and “doing” and just say, “I trust you God completely, there is no need to worry” This trust and faith will release His power to change my problem because I have given Him complete control.

            I am stubborn and sometimes I ignore every YIELD sign I see and therefore thoughts of doubt and worry plague me to the point of sickness…not just sick emotionally but physically with migraines that last for days.  God’s road sign to STOP worrying is found in 1 Peter 5:7.  It says that God doesn’t want you to worry!  He wants you enjoying life while HE fixes your problem.  What an awesome deal God has provided for me.  I can go minute by minute of my life and God is willing and able to take care of all my worries; but yet I still worry thinking it will bring results.  I often drive right through this STOP sign and then wonder why I have crashed with thoughts of doubt and feelings of hopelessness, fear, and misery.  I drive right through and wonder why my body is physically sick with exhaustion, colds, and migraines.  Worry even causes harm to others in the car with me because I am so grouchy, irritable and negative. My worry will even cause others to doubt God’s promises for their life.  But I have learned you can’t just “stop” worrying but you have to also STOP and pray.   I have to pray and release the problem into God’s hands.  It has been said that worrying is like a rocking chair because it is always in motion but it never gets you anywhere.  Worry does not change ANYTHING but prayer has the power to change EVERYTHING.  So why do I waste my time by not praying? (Beware when you pray and then worry, your worry nullifies your prayer.)

God holds up many different warning signs at different times in my life, but He is always holding up the ONE WAY sign.  There is only ONE WAY to having true joy and peace during my road trip and that is by trusting and obeying Him.  I have to humble myself by trusting God and obeying His road signs and only then will I see His blessings flow in my life.  The God, who created everything with just His words, also knows every single hair on my head.  He loves me more than I could imagine and He desperately wants to care for my problems, but He can’t start until I stop.

You may be in the same situation in regards to always feeling “sick” with worry while traveling to YOUR desired Promised Land, so ask yourself the same three questions God asked me.  First, whose radio station are you listening to? Second, are you reading God’s road map (Bible)? Lastly, are you obeying the road signs?   I can’t tell you when you will reach your final destination, but I can tell you that you will be miserable if you don’t learn to enjoy the road trip.  All of God’s promises are “yes” in Him and the “amen” (so be it) is spoken by us.  Believe His Word, believe your promise is coming, trust that He is fixing your problems and enjoy your “road trip”.  And while waiting, make use of your time by getting to know the Promise Keeper (God) better and help someone else struggling with hope.  It may not bring blessings into your life faster, but you will be so busy enjoying life that when the blessings do come, it will seem like they didn’t take long at all.

Where Is Your Hope?

H.O.P.E

(Holding On to the Promises and Expectations)

Are you standing at the wishing well just “hoping” your dreams will come true?

Modern Hope vs Biblical Hope

You are tired.  You are worn out.  You feel defeated and whether or not you want to admit it, you are angry at God and feel that He has abandoned you.  You question why this is happening to you and you question why He is allowing it to happen at all.  But through it all you have to remember it is NOT God’s fault.  He created all mankind to be fruitful and to multiply.  If there is a sickness in your body that is causing you to be infertile then the source of your anger needs to be directed towards Satan.  He roams the earth looking for people to kill, steal from and destroy.  You must not put up with His schemes but rather put a stop to His schemes.  You can start doing this by putting your hope in God. 

Two Different Types of Hope:  Which One Do You Have?

   

1.  Modern hope:  to wish for, to expect but without certainty of the fulfillment, to desire very much but with no real assurance of getting your desire.

·        Think of this type of hope as a “wishing well”  You throw your “prayers”  to God, but your “hope” is with the thoughts that He might answer, He might hear, or He might come to your rescue. 

·        Modern hope lacks faith and according to Hebrews 11:6, faith pleases God and releases His power into your situation

2.  Biblical hope:  A strong, joyful and confident expectation that what you desire WILL come to reality

·        Biblical hope depends on knowing the Word of God and His promises for you as a believer

·        Biblical hope depends on knowing (without doubt) God’s character

Four Benefits of Having Hope in God:

                                                                                                                                                    

Hope in God changes how you see yourself

·        I am fruitful

·        I am NOT barren

·        God is for me and not against me

·        God created me to multiply

·        God loves me and does not show favoritism

·        I am healed!

Hope  in God gives you joy and peace in the situation you are facing 

·        When we consider Him faithful and are hopeful in His promises, you can have joy and peace that He will do what He says He will do.  We can REST (not worry, stress, strive in our own efforts)

            Hope  in God gives you protection from the enemy

·        If we know God’s character and know without a shadow of a doubt He will fulfill His promises then you will not be defeated by the enemy.

·        God will never leave you, nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6)

·        God will always come to aid in times of trouble

·        Hope propels you to having faith and according to Ephesians 6:16, faith is the shield that protects you from all of the flaming arrows of the evil one

  

     Hope  in God gives you strength, courage and boldness

·        Knowing the Promises of God gives you hope and you will have the strength, courage and boldness to stand up to the devil, as well as, to others who may try to tell you to give up or that it is not God’s Will. 

·        Hope in God’s character gives us strength on the days when we don’t feel like we can go any further because we know “He who promised is faithful” according to Hebrews 10:23

In the Bible, hope is never a passive thing.  It is dynamic, active, and life sustaining.  Hope doesn’t leave you idle, drifting, or just rocking on the front porch.  Once we have biblical Hope in God and His Word, our biblical hope will turn to faith.   

Hope is the first step in receiving our “desires” from God.  Faith is the second step.   Once you have biblical hope and faith that God’s promises WILL come to a reality in your life, you will be put into gear. As a result, you will act and speak differently.

   You WILL act differently

·        You will act out your faith by preparing for a nursery, purchasing baby toys, baby clothes, stocking up on baby wipes or diapers

·        Not walk around worried, downcast, doubtful, anxious, annoyed

   You WILL speak differently

According to 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NIV), “I believed; therefore I have spoken.  With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.”

·        You will speak with authority to the devil (not just accept your illness, disease or whatever is causing our infertility)

·        You will speak positive words.  For example, I am fruitful, I am healed, and I will have children (instead of “if I have children…)

Remember Proverbs 18: 21 (NIV) says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  You prophesy over your life every time you speak.  What are you saying? 

QUESTION:  So where is your hope today?  Is it in the one who never changes...God and His promises?  Or is it in the newest diet, vitamins, medical procedures, or doctor's report?  God is saying to you right now LOOK TO ME!   SEEK ME!  I AM all you need!  I am the SOURCE of hope!

• Lamentations 3:25 (NIV) “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”

• Mathew 6:33 (NIV)”But seek first his kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  

Take away thought:

           Too often we “hope “in God like he is a “wishing well”.  But God is looking for us to have “biblical hope”…hope that is confident that he will do what he says he will do.  If we think “he might do it for me” and not have hope + faith in him then how can we expect him move in our lives?  For without hope God has nothing for which faith can make a reality.  If you have “modern hope” of which is “wishy washy” then you can’t  have solid faith in God, His character, and His promises.

Waiting Gracefully: Let Go and Let God

H.O.P.E

(Holding On to the Promises and Expectations)

Waiting Gracefully

(Part Two:  Let Go and Let God)

O LORD, I give my life to you.

Psalm 25:1 (NLT)

Skit Guys: Can you trust God?---Click on this link to watch the Skit Guys demonstrate how we treat God when trusting Him with our lives/issues/circumstances. (We watched this in our Thursday Night meeting)

 

When you have a problem, you begin to think of ways to “fix it” or “do something—it can cause stress, make you weary, have sleeplessness nights, cry, and even yell at others…but if you give the problem to someone else, it’s no longer your responsibility or burden to “do something”.  It becomes the person you gave it to.  You also gave it to them because you TRUST that they will fix it.  God loves you so much that He is saying to you, “PICK ME!  PICK ME! Give it to me!  I can fix it!  TRUST ME!”  He wants all of your burdens.  1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”

God is asking you to do two things:

1.    Surrender (give up) your problems COMPLETELY to Him

·        Surrendering to God means relinquish possession or control of the problem/issue

2.  Trust Him

·        Trusting God means having a firm belief in the reliability of His character and having a confident expectation He will do what He says

God is a gentleman and will never take something away from you without your asking. Isaiah 30:18 (NLT) says, “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion.  For the Lord is a faithful God.  Blessed are those who wait for his help.” 

I think it’s important to point out that often times we fool ourselves into thinking we have given our problems to God, but in reality we never actually “let go” of them. He is holding onto it and we are holding onto it.  It’s hard for Him to work on our problem if we still have possession of it.  This is because when we are still in possession, we feel like we need to “do something”.  However, sometimes are “doing something” can be a good thing—but remember, not every “good thing” is a God thing. 

Proverbs 94:11 says, “The Lord knows all human plans; he knows they are futile.”

•   Definition of futile: pointless

Examples of our “doing something” can be:

·        Pray according to what we want, how we want it, and when we want it

·        Google/research our “issue”

·        Read and/or study books on our “issue” (more than we do the Bible)

·        Talk to others regarding our “issue” (more than we talk to God)

·        Declare and fast without the Holy Spirits guidance (meaning we declare and fast out of thoughts such as, “If I do “this” than God will HAVE to answer my prayer)

·        Pray and read the Bible…BUT with the thought of “I have to if I want God to bless me

Your “doing something” can lead to…

 Weariness

Bitterness toward God

 Heartache

Disappointments

Anxiety

When we give our problems to God, He still wants us to “do something” but they are different than our ideas sometimes… 

Examples include:

·        Pray and wait for his guidance on which steps to take regarding the problem

·        Worship/praise Him (ex: Hannah, Paul/Silas, Abraham)

·        Talk to other Christians but ONLY after seeking God’s guidance FIRST

·        Be patient

·        Trust in Him by not taking it back or “checking” on it

God’s plans for our life include prosperity, hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) says, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Who wouldn’t want that?!  But in order to have the life and promises He wants to give us we first must “Let Go and Let God.” 

Question:  What are some areas you need to surrender (give) to God?  What is keeping you from trusting God?

Two Areas We Might Need to “Let Go and Let God”

1.    YOUR idea of “perfect timing” (TOUGH ONE FO SHO!)

You have to let go of your idea of “perfect timing” and trust in God that His timing is best.
Remember just because you don’t have it RIGHT now, doesn’t mean it’s not coming. Imagine if every prayer were answered immediately.  It seems like it would be a perfect world, but what if parents gave their children everything they asked for as soon as they asked for it, even if it was good for them. (Example: giving them a toy before they are mature/old enough)

"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and

have made the LORD their hope and confidence.”

Jeremiah 17:7 (NLT)

Letting go and trusting in God’s timing may be the hardest task, but it has the greatest rewards. 

·        It protects us from unseen danger (God sees the END from the BEGINNING)

·        It protects us from experiencing disappointments/heartache

·        It will take away the emotions of fear and worry and replace them with peace and security (you won’t be carrying around the burden anymore)

Examples of how others experienced heartache and suffering due to NOT surrendering to God’s timing…

Example:  Remember Sarah in the Bible?  She was promised a son but when she did not see this promise come to pass in HER timing, she began to doubt God and make her own way; this caused her much heartache.  Sarah was looking at God’s promise from her limited, human perspective.  Therefore, she had her maidservant, Hagar, conceive Abraham a son.  Soon after, Sarah became jealous and mistreated her.  Imagine the feelings you would have if your husband had a child with another woman, even if it was your idea…I yi yi yi!  God NEVER intends for you to go through heartache or negative emotions.

Example: I was uneasy and did not have peace about doing IVF in April/May 2012, but I went ahead with the procedure.  As a result, I had a miscarriage.  I was devastated; angry with God; heartbroken; worried; and it caused me to become fearful of my future without children.  All of these emotions were a direct result of my miscarriage which would not have happened had I went with my “gut” (which was the Holy Spirit speaking to me).

2.   YOUR idea of just “having a baby”.  (Embrace God’s plan of wanting to give you more than “just a baby”)

According to Ephesians 3:20, God always wants to give you abundantly and exceedingly more than what you ask for— You are asking for a baby, but God wants to give you so much more than “just a baby”.  God wants to give you His BEST.

Examples:

He wants to give you healing (so you can have LOTS of babies without worries) 

 He may want to give you peace and restore your joy so that you can share with others who are struggling

 He may want to strengthen your faith so that when other “hardships” come you have the strength and knowledge to make it through

He may want to restore your relationship with Him (let’s face it, having hardships can put a strain on your relationship with God)

Waiting for God’s timing can make you weary (spiritually and emotionally).  It can cause doubt, frustration and unbelief.  Below are three “pain killers” to take to help ease the “wait”:

1.    Speak and think God’s Word 

a.      Guard your heart and mind by constantly keeping God’s Word in your thoughts and on your lips (Google if you don’t know scriptures to use)

2.  Pray

a.      Waiting can drain you; ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength and peace BEFORE you become weary (Ex:  Why do you buy insurance?)

3.     Find a positive support system that meets regularly

a. The devil is a liar and always wants you to be isolated and to feel alone. 

b. The Bible says that it is important to connect with others having the same struggles so that you can pray and uplift one another

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Matthew 18:19-20 says, “Ialso tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Question:  What are some other “pain killers” to help in the surrendering/waiting process?

Take Away Thought:

  God wants to give you His best.  He causes things to happen at exactly the right time and your job is not to figure out “when” but just trust Him when He says it WILL happen.  There more you trust God and keep your eyes focused on Him, the more life you will have. 

Wait

By: Russel Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.

Quietly, patiently, lovingly, He replied.

I pleaded, and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said, “Child, you must wait.”

“Wait? You say wait?” my indignant reply.

“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why.

Is your hand shortened?  Or have you not heard?

By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming your Word.

“My future, and all to which I can relate

Hangs in the balance, and you tell me ‘wait’?

I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign,

Or even a ‘no’, to which I can resign.

“And Lord, you have promised that if we believe,

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord I’ve been asking and this is my cry;

I’m weary of asking: I need a reply!”

Then quietly, softly I learned of my fate

As my Master replied once again, “You must wait.”

So I slumped in my chair; defeated and taut

And grumbled to God; “So I’m waiting, for what?”

He seemed then to kneel and His eyes met with mine

And He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens, darken the sun,

Raise the dead, cause the mountains to run.

“All you see I could give, and pleased you would be.

You would have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me.

You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint;

You’d not know the power that I give to the faint.

“You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;

You’d not learn to trust, just by knowing I’m there.

You’d not know the joy of resting in Me,

When darkness and silence was all you could see.

“You would never experience that fullness of love

As the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,

But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

“The glow of My comfort late in the night;

The faith that I give when you walk without sight;

The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask

From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

“And you never would know, should your pain quickly flee

What it means that ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’

Yes, your dreams for that loved one o’ernight could come true,

But the loss!  If you lost what I’m doing in you.

“So be silent, my child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft’ may My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all…is still…wait.”