So many years of waiting. So many tears I’ve cried…hoping I would see an answer to my prayers. If you’ve believed God for anything at all, you know what I mean. I spent many days full of faith, but other days, I was exhausted from waiting…praying…hoping… and believing. I was beginning to think my situation was normal. Maybe things would never change. Maybe this is just my reality. But suddenly…when I least expected it…God worked a miracle in my situation.
It’s crazy because you’d think I would have been ecstatic, when my husband called with the good news. But honestly…it felt so unreal…way too good to be true.
You see, my husband and I have been praying for this for almost twenty years. And during those twenty years we experienced let down after let down. Time after time we got our hopes up, only to have the door closed in our face. So, when it came to receiving the answer to this prayer that day, our faith wasn’t high. The likelihood of receiving our yes was quite low. But still, we had an inkling of hope…faith that this would be the day that God would come through for us…and He did.
Never give up on your promise.
I don’t know what you are believing for. But whatever it is, don’t give up. No matter how long you’ve been praying…no matter how long you’ve been believing.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT)
Weariness is inevitable as we journey along in our faith. There will be times when we want to throw in the towel. There will be times when we lack the strength to go on. But if we keep going, if we do not give up, we will reap a harvest of blessing. This is God’s promise to us.
Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT)
This passage of scripture has carried me on the days that I wanted to throw in the towel. When I remember the strength of the Lord, I am reminded that I don’t have to do this alone…and neither do you.
The Lord will strengthen you when you are weak. He will enable you to wait on Him.
Your promise is worth waiting for. So lean on Him in this season of your life. Allow Him to strengthen you in your time of weakness. Allow Him to enable you when you can’t go on.
I want to acknowledge that the journey of faith is not easy…
Walking by faith often feels like wandering around in the wilderness. The road can be dark, confusing, depressing, and quite frankly…scary.
It’s hard to trust God when it feels like your life's falling apart. It’s hard to believe in a promise that seems impossible. After all, we don’t live in a bubble. We have to face the facts of life everyday…
…Facts that tell us we aren’t good enough.
…Facts that tell us we aren’t smart enough.
…Facts that tell us we don’t have the right background or qualifications.
…Facts that say we don’t have the right resources or connections.
…These facts prove we are believing in the impossible…
It’s okay to acknowledge the facts, but we must remember that God isn’t bound by facts.
He isn’t bound by our background or experience…
Read the story of Moses’ calling in Exodus 3.
He’s not bound by our resources…
Read about how Jesus fed five thousand people in Matthew 14.
He isn’t bound by our sickness and disease…
Study the many stories of healing in the gospels.
He isn’t even bound by our past…
Read about Paul’s calling in Acts 22.
God defied the facts when he enabled Moses to rescue the children of Israel. He defied the facts when He fed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. He defied the facts when he healed the sick and raised the dead. He defied the facts when he chose a man like Paul to lead the gentiles and write many books of the New Testament.
Our God is a miracle worker.
He performed miracles back then, and He is still performing miracles today.
Do you need a miracle from God?
Do you need His healing? Maybe you need healing in your body, your mind, or a relationship.
Do you need His provision? Maybe you need help with providing for your family, your calling, or your ministry.
Do you need Him to enable you? Maybe you need His help to walk in purpose.
Do you need His grace? Maybe you need Him to make-up the difference in your life. Maybe you’re unqualified. Maybe there’s something in your past that’s affecting your future.
Whatever it is…He is able.
Even when it doesn’t make sense…He is able. Even when the facts don’t line up…He is able.
We can’t allow the facts to determine our faith.
Why?
Because God works miracles when we least expect it.
This is exactly what He did in our situation. But don’t take my word for it. Take another look at the miracles we discussed earlier…
Do you think Moses knew God would call him that day? Do you think those five thousand people knew they would be fed miraculously? Do you think all of those people knew they would be healed or raised from the dead? Do you think Paul was expecting to be a leader in the church?
Your situation does not disqualify you from receiving your promise.
So stop magnifying the facts and magnify your God.
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. (Psalms 34:3-6 NLT)
God is bigger than the mountains that you face. He’s bigger than your past. He’s bigger than your resources. He’s bigger than your qualifications. Remember that nothing is impossible for Him. So choose to trust Him today. Keep hoping. Keep praying. Keep believing. If you keep going…If you do not give up…He will do what He said He will do…and it will be when you least expect it.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the amazing promises that you have given me. Today, I have been reminded that you are faithful, and I have been reminded that your faithfulness is not bound by my circumstances. You, God, are bigger than the facts. You are bigger than the bad news that I’ve received in the past, and you are bigger than my present circumstances. So today, I am making the decision to trust you. I will trust you when the road seems dark and I can’t see a way out. I will trust you when my situation seems impossible and I don’t understand. I will lean on you. I will wait for you. Because you won’t fail. You will make a way when there is no way. You will move mountains on my behalf, and you will part the sea ahead of me. I believe that, against all odds, you will lead me to the place that you have prepared for me. Thank you in advance, Father. I love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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