Dear friends
Have you ever heard the advice to trust GOD’s timing?
Or the saying that GOD is never too late and always on time?
Easier said than done, don’t you think?
I mean, in the end, we all know that GOD has the last say, that HE and only HE decides what will happen with us and when it will happen, don’t we…
BUT….
There are huge and many “but’s” emerging from my argumentative brain… and they are emerging often, constantly really – and very loudly!
It’s hard to trust someone will know better than you yourself, especially when you are in need and when you believe you need this or that desperately.
It’s easy to see when the need you and I have is obvious – what if we are in the unfortunate situation when we should be lacking food or shelter?
Would we be needing help?
I think everyone would agree that we would.
And yet, there are homeless and starving people in the world and not all of them are unbelievers…?
Take someone who is addicted to a substance, for instance.
As you may know, I am a Drug and Alcohol Worker in prison, and many of my clients believe in GOD.
I know this because I ask them all and if they are believers, we often have very deep conversations about the root cause of their issues, which I believe are always spiritual and many times, we can find an angle to look at things which makes it easier for the men to tackle their cravings and to focus on what they truly want to create for themselves, a life with a family, a job and outside of prison, in freedom.
Has GOD been coming through for them before?
I don’t know and neither do you.
We could say they are still alive – they must be when I am working with them and when they are my clients – so that’s a good thing, right?
Many of them are living in very dire conditions though and don’t have a lot going for them, have been in and out of prison for many years and do not have a job or home to go to upon their release.
Sometimes, miracles happen.
Sometimes, I can even see change happen in them while we speak.
Sometimes, I can clearly see GOD work in their lives while I work with them – it is the most beautiful thing to see and I love it so much and it fills me with the greatest joy when I see a life turn for the better, see a person come ALIVE and free when they break free from slavery and free themselves from “zombie-land”, where they had been living for so long, merely existing, serving their drug as a slave, adore their drug, be married to their drug, work for their drug and focus their entire existence on getting more drugs…
And also sometimes, they are going back outside and go back to their old ways and habits and lifestyle and even come back to the same prison, sometimes after a very short time outside…
Sometimes, they even use or keep using in prison.
In my own life, too, both variants can be found.
When GOD delivers me and helps me and heals me – and when HE doesn’t YET…
Some things, I have been praying for many times, for a long time, years – and yet, they are still not overcome, not even changed, or not much – and others, they were changed instantly, big ones and small ones.
I sometimes wonder about HIS timing – do you?
Looking back, I always know that it was perfect indeed.
But in the situation, it is sometimes hard to see that.
I was speaking to a client yesterday and he has had enough, his case is complicated and he is suffering and he is desperate, depressed and he believes the only option he has is going back to using drugs – and when I brought GOD into the picture, his MIGHT and power, my client found himself doubting, not really doubting GOD, but doubting if he can take anymore…
I have been there.
Have you?
And I hope my client will cry out to HIM.
That’s what I do when I can’t take anymore.
And that’s when I receive and answer from GOD – every time.
Sometimes it is a promise that HE will help me and remove the obstacle I am troubled by.
It doesn’t necessarily mean HE will remove it right away, but eventually, if I keep listening and following HIS guidance…
Sometimes it is more strength to go through this.
Sometimes it is just peace that comes to me, so that I know it will be fine.
But sometimes, it can also be a “not now, not like this, not here, not this way” – in other ways, the answer may tell me I need to wait, to accept, to change, to learn….
In the end, the outcome will be better than what I had originally wanted.
PLUS, it often helps me to remember that change and improvement and life itself is always happening in stages, a process, like in nature… sowing…growing….ripening…..harvest – there is no short-cut!
And this process is made by GOD!
But it is hard to see that when we are in the middle of the mess.
What helps me is that I know there is no point and it makes no sense to fight with GOD.
If HE has not meant something for me, I will NOT have it.
Period.
Basta!
I may have something that looks similar and that the devil will sell me as the original, but it will only be a fake, cheap copy and will most likely hurt and harm me.
And NOT make me happy and most definitely not bring me peace or satisfaction.
Only misery.
I have had situations where I didn’t have the patience to wait on HIM and the outcome was disastrous.
The other thing I tell myself that sometimes HE is protecting me from what I want and not giving it to me.
Looking back, that also makes so much sense… does it in your life, my friend?
Still, it may not be very comforting to remind ourselves of this when we truly believe we are lacking or dying…
Like the disciples, when JESUS was asleep on the ship and they thought they would die from the raging storm.
And what did HE say?
Matthew 8:26
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Sometimes, I am guilty of being afraid and having too little faith.
Are you?
What does comfort me if all of the above doesn’t work is to trust in HIM regardless of if I understand or not – and to give the situation INCLUDING my desire or complaint – even more to HIM, surrender everything, doing my best to rest into the knowing that there is nothing I can do about it, nothing I can do to change it nothing I can do to get what it is I am longing for –
UNLESS it is HIS will for me.
And then I pray.
Let’s pray, my friend, shall we?
“Father GOD, you are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, there is nothing YOU cannot do, nothing is too hard for you, you know everything and YOU have a plan for me and for every single one of us. JEHOVA Shammah, the GOD who is always present, JEHOVA Rapha, the GOD who heals, JEHOVA Jireh, the GOD who provides, thank YOU for being OUR GOD and thank YOU for always hearing us.
We are crying out to YOU right here and in this moment,HEAVENLY FATHER, I and my friend reading this, and we have come before YOUR throne as there is something we want to ask of YOU boldly as YOU have taught us:
Dear FATHER, please grant me/my friend….(insert your name)… that what I and he or she are asking of YOU today….(insert your petition)…………….
We trust that YOU will hear us and help us and we ask what we desire and pray in the name of YOUR son JESUS.
AMEN.”
How about you, my friend?
Did you get an answer from GOD when HE told you: “not now!” or “not this way!” or “not here!”?
How did you respond to HIM?
I hope and pray that this will inspire, encourage, bless and heal you.
And that THE LORD will bless you abundantly in all areas of your life, that HE will keep you and shine HIS face upon you and bring you peace.
In JESUS’ name I pray.
AMEN.
Witness for Jesus 