***From the archives***
It is quite easy to trust and believe God when everything is going well but what happens when things don’t go as planned? How do we pull ourselves together and still believe that His thoughts for us are of good and not of evil?
Getting a phone call about your mum being terribly ill isn’t a news you would like to hear first thing on a beautiful Tuesday morning. But this was the reality i had to embrace some years ago. My heart sank and fear gripped me. Not hearing my mum’s voice when i called was a new thing for me to adjust to. Not hearing the bubbly voice I used to hear when i call her was very strange and devastating.
I was yet to recover from this shock when the devil struck again. Now it was my dad’s health. It was as if everything is shutting down.
As if these weren’t enough, on the day my first daughter turned 3, we were told that she might have autism because her speech development was very slow. Although they said she ‘might’, the panic that came with it was great. Appointment upon appointment. Instead of spending time with her on her birthday, i spent all day googling what autism is, where i can find a physician that can help with cure, etc. Autism is a disability that has no cure. At this point, it was as though life was taken out from me. I tried to pray but it was hard as I couldn’t find words. I asked a lot of questions that I got no answer for.
I was stressed and frustrated with everything that was going on. I started ticking all the boxes trying to find where we went wrong. I thought ‘we pay our tithes. So why isn’t God’s promises in Malachi 3:11 fulfilled in our lives?’. Trusting God in this season was tough.
One night, the Holy Spirit reminded me of John 14:27. It reads;
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Instantly, I felt peace in my heart and I decided to take God for His words. God never told us that we will never experience challenges in this world. There won’t be any need for Him to promise us peace if there won’t be war and challenges. In the midst of the heat, He says He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
In order for us to be able to trust God during hard times, we need to be able to rely on His words. And also acknowledge that panicking won’t fix the situation. When we panic, we create room for the devil to create fear in us. We begin to focus our eyes on the challenges instead of God. Whatever we focus on magnifies. When i took God for His words, I was relieved of stress and heartache. Did this make the situation go away? No. But I refused to fret about it. I stopped wrapping my life around what was happening. I learnt to take one day at a time. Although some days were harder than others, i decided to focus on what God is doing and what He is able to do.
Sharing my challenges with people who I knew could encourage and cover me in prayers also helped. At times I couldn’t pray, I felt strong because I had people praying for. This certainly gave me the courage to persevere.
The challenges we go through in life strengthens our faith in God. There is a saying that if there is no test, there is no testimony.
Your situation might be different. You might be going through stress with school, marriage, kids, finances, health etc. The principle of relying on God’s word does work.
After a while, things started changing for the better. My daughter was cleared of autism and she is a little chatterbox now :). My parents are recovering well. I am still trusting God that He will perfect everything concerning their health.
No matter what you are going through, remember God never sleeps or slumbers. Find comfort and strength through His word and watch Him saturate your soul with peace. God does not hate you. He loves you with an everlasting love.
Very timely, thank you Efua
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank God who provides us with what we need at the right time!
LikeLike
Truth
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen!! The peace He gives is AMAZING!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is bro. I praise Him! I haven’t seen your posts in a while. I miss them. Hope you start writing again soon
LikeLiked by 1 person
God’s up to something I tell ya! Keep sharing your heart!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t wait to read what He has been telling you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have Your way in our lives Lord!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whew. What a wonderful testimony.:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thank God sis!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for this post today! I just read that verse last night! I’m so sorry you have had to go through all this, but thanks be to God that He helped you through. My daughter just recently was told my youngest grandson tested positive for autism. They will have to do further testing. His speech development is slow. I am believing for a good report though! This baby loves hugs and to interact with others, so I’m choosing g to believe he isn’t autistic. I’m praying God’s will be done🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whose report shall we believe? We shall believe the report of the Lord which says that your grandson is good!! I will definitely be praying for you and your family for God’s intervention. God does answer prayers and He certainly shows up in time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is exactly what I quoted to my daughter when she shared the news with me over the phone! And you are the second person to tell me that after I have shared this with others! I believe this is confirmation that God has this, and He is in control!!! 🙌
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen sis! Amen!!! This will end in praise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe it!🙌And thanks so much for the prayers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen!!! This was much needed today! I really needed to read this… God brought me here to read your testimony… God is Good and he’s always on time… his timing never fails us…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen. I praise Him. This has been timely for a few people today and I am glad that God has used it to encourage us
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow thank you for sharing this trying testimony Frances, I pray God uses this to minister to those who need to hear this testimony and Word
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And Amen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Psalms 31.7-8
I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love
for you have seen my troubles,
and you care about the anguish of my soul.
You have not handed me over to my enemies
but have set me in a safe place.
THANKS EFUA 🙏
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen! Powerful scripture!
LikeLike
This is a good reminder. Often times we panic because of not trusting God’s sovereignty and His timing. God works in faith; the devil works in fear. I wrote a blog on this particular topic. I’m not sure when I will post it but when I do, hopefully you will tell me what you think. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
“God works in faith; the devil works in fear.” Go works in faith; the devil works in fear. So true! Looking forward to reading your post.
LikeLike
Amen! It is one day at a time! ❤ This closely relates to the previous you shared. Sometimes we won't understand, like a dry season or a season with constant storms, but the Lord is always there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“But the Lord is always there”. Reassuring words indeed. He is our very present help.😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can relate. 😉
https://wordpress.com/post/seekingdivineperspective.com/1107
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. However the link isn’t working
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s the blog I posted about my daughter and her husband and kids (half my family!) being in a potentially life-threatening situation. I posted it in two parts, April 17 and 24.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds intriguing. For some reason the link didn’t work. Can you resend it please? Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been told some people can’t connect with it on one device but can on another.
Can you try another device, or go to my blog and find those dates?
wordpress.com/post/seekingdivineperspective.com/1107
wordpress.com/post/seekingdivineperspective.com/976
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok. I will try it on a laptop
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for trying, Efua. If you’re still having trouble, let me know. I could just copy and paste, if you don’t mind my taking the space. 😉
LikeLike
Efua, I’ve nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award. 🙂
https://seekingdivineperspective.com/2020/05/15/mystery-blogger-award-x-2-and-more-information-about-me-than-you-ever-wondered-about/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sincerely appreciate your kindness. Congratulations to you and thanks for thinking of me 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person