Today, I just want to encourage you all in the love of our Savior and Shepherd, Christ Jesus. Although we are just shy over a month and a half into the new year and decade, many of us are still in the winter of our lives and we see nothing but the frozen images of what life used to be and the scattered images of what we hope it to be.
But we are unable to see with our natural eye what soon will be. And because of that truth, we need to remain in Trust, knowing that Christ Jesus is indeed working on our behalf, perfecting what He began in and for us (PHILIPPIANS 1:6) even though we may not see it, feel it, or hear it.
For just as flowers are preparing to bud beneath the snow, their roots digging deep in the darkness and hidden places of the soil, so too are our blessings and breakthroughs from Our Heavenly Father.
But in these cold ‘spiritual winters’ we sometimes get blindsided or simply become blind to the vision within. We move our focus from our faith and hope in Him and begin to look at what is around us—the dark, leafless trees, the grey sunless sky, and the harsh, never-ending sea of snow and ice.
“He WILL bring you through whatever you are going through and HE will get the glory and bless you on the other side of this winter, even as He is blessing you now.”
We suddenly forget what Christ has already done for us in our personal walks with Him and we tend to grumble and complain, completely throwing in the towel. But let us be reminded of our brother Job.
Job 2:7-10, “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[a] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.“
Job certainly understood what it meant to suffer and fall on hard times. He understood loss and confusion. He understood walking in righteousness and traversing storm after storm without seeing change or hope on the horizon but still, he trusted the Lord. And in the end Job ended up more blessed than He had been before (JOB 42:7-16).
WHEN GOD TRUSTS YOU WITH TROUBLE
“…Did you notice my servant Job, that there’s no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears Elohim and shuns evil?” ~JOB 1:8
What happened in Job’s life is what happens in our lives. Job was chosen as a vessel for God to show His glory. Job was not being punished for some sin in his life, on the contrary, the Lord chose him because Job was righteous and faithful. He knew Job’s heart and character and He knew that no matter what the enemy did, no matter how hopeless it seemed, Job would remain faithful and keep on trusting to the glory and honor of His Holy Name. And He feels the same way about you and me.
The Lord looked upon Job with delight. He was proud of Job and knew that Job would do Him proud. He knew He could trust Job with trouble. It was God who told the enemy about Job before all hell broke loose in his life.
EQUIPPED TO OVERCOME
Tragedy struck at Job because God had equipped him to handle it. He knew Job’s heart was faithful. He chose Job to show His glory, to the shame of the Adversary, BECAUSE JOB WAS BLAMELESS!
Again, Job was not being punished, the tragedies that he faced came from favor and produced greater blessings not only in his life but for those of his faithless friends and it glorified the Lord.
James 1:2-4 says, “Regard it all as joy, my brothers, when you face various kinds of temptations for you know that the testing of your trust produces perseverance. But let perseverance do its complete work; so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.”
Stretching beyond our tears and struggles with frustration, we need to let perseverance do its complete work in us. There is such a great richness—that cannot be described in words—that comes from persevering and bringing glory to Christ when we persevere. Greater intimacy with Him is also produced which thus takes us to greater Heights in Shalom Peace!
Let us all walk in faith and complete trust, no matter how bad things seem to get, for we know that ALL things are working out to our good (ROMANS 8:28). Let us keep our heads held high, and our hands raised in continuous praise because we know that His thoughts and plans for us are to give us hope and a good end (JEREMIAH 29:11). And let us keep our trust because we know that our present sufferings are not even WORTHY to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us (ROMANS 8:18).
And in those times when we have been tried to silence and exhaustion, let us rest in His bosom and know that He is with us even if it seems our beds have been made in the Hell (PSALM 139:7-12).
But even in all of this, beloved of God, if we are unable to hold on to anything let us hold on to this, that even “IF WE ARE FAITHLESS HE REMAINS FAITHFUL, FOR HE CANNOT DISOWN HIMSELF.” His Word will never return to Him void but it will accomplish ALL that HE sent it out to do (ISAIAH 55:10-13).
He WILL bring you through whatever you are going through and HE will get the glory and bless you on the other side of this winter, even as He is blessing you now.
I pray that we will all take the time to look at Him, our Compassionate Abba, and ask Him that He opens our eyes to see how He has been carrying us through these present trials. Let us ask Him for greater trust and let us receive His fullness of joy because we know that He loves us (JOHN 15:9-11). And let us be overcome by His Shalom for it is ours and WE KNOW He is Faithful (JOHN 14:27).
Shalom Peace be unto to you all and may His Shalom that surpasses ALL understanding bless and keep you.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in YHVH with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him; then He will level your paths.”
~Dream. Imagine. Believe. Do. CONQUER
–Candice Coates is an author, blogger, and contributor to Ambo TV. To read more from her, follow her blog at www.icameforthesoup.com