“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.” Gen 17:4 (NKJ)
One morning a few years ago, I felt the LORD say to me “David, you are a winter wheat.” I believe that this was in response to my seeking Him to know His plan for my life, after I had specifically asked what He wanted me to do in the U.K. I thought for a while on what this cryptic statement meant and finally understood that it was God’s simple, yet characteristically effective way of informing me that life for me would first get harder before it got better, the way it is for a winter wheat.
This variety of wheat is planted just before the onset of winter, and initially flourishes until the harshness of winter forces it to suspend its foliar growth, pushing it into survival mode, where it struggles to find water and nutrients to live. This struggle is not in vain for in its determined quest for survival, the plant pushes its root network deeper into the soil and becomes well established; a process which prepares it to take advantage of the water and nutrient flush characteristic of the approaching spring thaw. During the throes of winter, there is no visible evidence of any growth activity, since everything is going on underground. In fact, it would seem as if the plant was dead and there was nothing to show for the farmer’s hard work. However, the onset of spring quickly proves the opposite as the milder and more conducive conditions now enables the crop to regain the initiative and grow both vigorously and maximally to produce the most sought after variety of wheat that we all love to eat.
So, speaking on a personal note, what effect has God’s word above had on me? It has encouraged, bolstered my confidence in God and empowered me to live in hope, also known as firm expectation, and to look forward, in great anticipation, to the beginning of every spring. The question on my lips always being, “Lord, will it be this year?” “Will I finally start seeing the fulfilment of your promise to me?”
If, like the patriarch Abraham or my humble self, God has made you a promise that as yet remains unfulfilled, you need to understand that God is always true to His word, seeing as He is bound by it. He cannot default on His word. This means that you can bet your life on that immutable fact. God will definitely fulfil the promise He made to you. Things may not be going too well for you at the moment, but that is only part of the process. Like Abraham or Jesus Christ, “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Heb 12:2 (KJV), you too shall surely triumph over adversity and reign with Him on the fulfilment side of the Promised Land. Just keep faith with Him and He will come through for you.
So, take a moment to reiterate your confidence in this faithful God as you meditate on these bible verses: Job 19:25, Num 23:19, Eph 3:20 and Rev 3:8.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you are at work in my life, even though I cannot see the changes yet. I live in hope and praise you because I know that you are preparing the day and hour that you will finally reveal and actuate your plans and purposes to me. Hallelujah!!!