“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” Phil 4:13 (Amplified)
Do you know that every promise that God makes has an inbuilt challenge that you have to overcome before it can reach fulfilment? This is because from God’s exalted and clear perspective, the process is just as important, if not more, than the product – in fact, it determines the product. As human beings with our limited view, our eyes are often so transfixed on the end point, such that we are often surprised when God takes us on an unexpected detour in our quest to see the fulfilment of His promise. What I have come to learn is the fact that the fulfilment of God’s plan is often not as straight forward as going from point A to B in a straight line. It is often as convoluted and confounding as the twist and turns of the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, the sure thing is that however convoluted or seemingly delayed the process might seem, the end remains unchanged and God’s word will always come to pass.
When God told the Israelites that He was taking them from bondage in Egypt to the land of promise – Canaan, they all thought that it would be a walk in the park. After all, Canaan was only a few days journey away. The reality turned out to be different as the dream nearly turned into a nightmare until it finally became a reality forty years later. God kept His promise, but not as they had expected. He still fulfilled His end of the bargain, but in accordance with His own plan and following due process. The end was for the Israelites to possess Canaan, but the process involved getting to know their God so that they would be able to perpetuate their success and hold on to the land. God knew what He was doing then and He still does now.
This important principle was repeatedly in play throughout the bible as God used it to mould individuals and peoples’ character in His image in order to accomplish His eternal purpose through them. He is still doing the same today. The consolation is that God is still using the weak things to confound the wise, or why else did you think He chose to use you? David was considered a nobody such that his own father failed to remember him when directed to assemble his sons before the Prophet Samuel. Yet, he was God’s choice to put to effect a mighty revolution in his generation. He had to go through the process and we all will agree that the end was indeed worth the trouble.
So, are you presently in a pickle or can’t understand exactly what God is doing with the precious resource that is your life? Has God promised you heaven and then given you hell? Are you presently seriously considering packing it in because you no longer can take the pain or seeming uncertainties that your obedience of God’s word has introduced into your life? My simple advice is – get with the programme. Understand that there is a clear-cut process as well as a definite end and more importantly to you, learn to differentiate between the two. God has a plan for a wonderful future as well as a glorious end for you. So, go on, for you can make it in His strength because you are ready for anything. You are a winner and that fact is incontrovertible.
Prayer:
Lord, your plans and how you choose to execute them often confuse me. Help me to understand that irrespective of what I see, you will as promised cause all things to work together for my good and glorify your name because I love you. Amen.