Clinging to an Unknown Promise!
Each of us have different experiences in coming to a realization that we need God in our lives. Even after we acknowledge that need and finally surrender to a desire to follow Him, we still have unique experiences, good and bad. As much as we might want to believe that everything from our point of conversion on, will be sweetness and light, unfortunately it will not. be. For the rain falls on the just and the unjust. Sometimes it’s not even our personal life that threatens our peace, but sometimes it is a loved one, a neighbor, a co-worker. The pain of seeing someone suffering from a chronic illness, or a drug addiction, or mental illness… the list goes on and on. We are not isolated from the pains of this life. We will interface with them over and over again.
I was reminded during prayer this morning of those times when I inched forward with only a promise on paper. Although that paper was the Word of God, I did not have enough experience to know whether it would happen for me. I had a history of failed promises in my life at that point. The disappointment of people I put confidence in loomed large. When I had tried to pray, it seemed as if things only got worst, not better. Coming to Christ, I came on the recommendation of others who said God moved for them in so many ways. I was desperate for a change in my life, I felt anything would be better.
To be honest, it was. Not the first day or the second, but gradually I began to see the benefit of having Christ in my life. I had yet to make Him Lord of my life however. There were so many situations where I still felt I needed to work things out for myself. It took years, and a few more trials to find that when I trusted God completely, I saw victory! However, I had yet to really see how real victory felt until one day I prayed:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Phil. 3:10 (KJV)
It was then that all hell broke loose. Yet during that season, as I clung to the promises of God, I saw one promise after another fulfilled. I saw miracles take place not only in my life, but in the lives of my family and those I prayed for. I saw the blessings unfold, but I also saw the richness of having fellowship with my Savior and Lord. I felt and saw despair turn into joy; need turned into supply; denial turned into favor; a life with purpose concealed turned into a life of purpose revealed. I can attest to the Psalmist who said:
What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!
He won’t walk in step with the wicked,
nor share the sinner’s way,
nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.
2 His pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of "I Am,"
meditating day and night in the true revelation of light.
3 He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree
planted by God’s design,
deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,
bearing fruit in every season of his life.
He is never dry, never fainting,
ever blessed, ever prosperous. Psalm 1:1-4 (TPT)
What took time was not God moving, but the scales that were on my eyes, and the hardness within my heart, had to be cleared so I could really SEE God moving, and understand that His Ways are not my ways, and when He works, it is with eternity in mind. He is not just concerned about answering a prayer a day, as He is with building a foundation of faith and trust so that we can walk this journey today, tomorrow, and forever. It is a good life. It is a sweet life. Prayer really does change things. Walking with God really does have extraordinary benefits. He really does unleash household salvation. He really does love us through every season of our life, always blessing us, always working things together for our good.
We are still clinging to His promises, but they are no longer unknown, they have been revealed!
Maria