Our sons Kaleb and Kedar were out riding their bicycles this afternoon. The 85-degree weather, without much breeze, left them panting and parched. It was hot and humid outdoors.
About 15 minutes later, while I was sitting on the porch admiring the beauty of the bright blue sky and beaming sunlight, I heard the loud rumble of thunder. It disrupted the serenity of the peaceful day.
As the boys came quickly peddling up the sidewalk, I noticed them looking upward, seeming surprised by nature's boisterous announcement of a soon-coming rainstorm.
“Look,” I said, pointing up and to the right. “Do you see what the sky looks like over there?”
Kedar and Kaleb marveled a bit when they saw dark gray clouds overhead.
“Now look to the left,” I instructed.
“Whoa, it’s blue and sunny!” Kedar noted.
It was half sunny, half cloudy.
Soon, the darkness spread. The air cooled. The rustling of the green leaves on the trees lining our block grew louder.
The conditions changed so rapidly and down came the rain.
Life’s conditions can change equally as rapidly, just as they did for a woman named Sharon who wrote into the ministry.
The sun was shining brightly in her life for 15 years, until one day, her husband decided he wanted out of their marriage. She lost her job a month later. She got behind on her house payments and the estranged couple’s dream home went into foreclosure.
Well, a full year passed and Sharon still couldn’t find employment. She had collected a pile of rejection letters that left her feeling down and almost hopeless. Carrying the weight of all the expenses, while doing her best to parent two children also struggling with their father’s abrupt departure, seemed like too much to handle.
She asked our prayer team to agree with her for a turnaround in her circumstances and restoration of her faith.
So we did; we believed God together.
A bit more time went by with no change, but then, a position opened up. It was in Sharon’s field of child services, but a bit above her experience level.
“I felt God leading me to apply for it anyway,” she wrote in a recent email.
Sharon almost didn’t do it because her faith had taken such a beating over the past several months.
But thank God she pushed past doubt, discouragement and disillusionment, and applied.
She got the job!
Sharon was overjoyed and continues to rejoice in the fact that after numerous defeats, her victory finally came. These days, she is standing in faith that God will restore her in every area of life.
I know He's able.
The day she got the good news, incidentally, Sharon had been reading a devotional based on Judges 20.
God is so awesome, because, in that chapter, the Israelites fought the battle of Gibeah against the Benjamites and had sustained some losses.
When God sent them into battle, the first day, the Benjamites killed 22,000 Israelite soldiers. The second day, there were 18,000 more casualties. It didn’t look good. They cried out to God and inquired about whether they should continue on.
Have you ever lost more than you’ve won and felt like you should quit altogether? Have you ever obeyed God and did all you knew how to do and still came up short?
If so, that doesn't mean God has forsaken you. He's actually setting you up for a blessing.
Well, the Israelites were pretty discouraged and yet, the Lord told them to go back and fight—again—despite having already lost 40,000 men.
They obeyed.
On the third day, their turnaround came.
Now, get this.
Even on that third day, initially, about 30 of their fighters were killed, so it looked like déjà vu, but God wasn’t finished.
This time around, that brief moment of defeat led to a great victory over the Benjamites. The word of God says 18,000 of their men of valor were slain before the Israelites, who won a hard-fought victory.
God will give you victory also!
You have to know, He’s not finished with you yet.
I know you may be dealing with some of the toughest opposition of your life, multiple failures and great trials. Nevertheless, the work is not completed. There is more, greater and better coming your way.
As Philippians 1:6 NIV says, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Don't be deterred by the bumps in the road or the setbacks. God will take care of you. He will turn things around. Don't let turmoil make you forget who you serve. God is on your side.
When it seems like you’re surely going down for the last time, He will stretch out His hand and deliver you.
Friend, instead of letting an apparent defeat get you down, speak over yourself and declare that greater is coming—because it is.
Greater blessings; greater breakthroughs; greater doors; greater opportunities & greater territory is opening up, because the Greater One is on your side.
Isaiah 43:19 ESV, which I’m stirring into your cup of inspiration, says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, prepare for your new season of more and better. Forget the old things behind you. Look forward to the awesome things God has in store.
This is not a hopeless case. This is not the end. The situation is not too far gone. Our mighty Savior has a great plan for your deliverance and breakthrough.
Now let's pray.
God, by faith, I prepare for my divine release. I thank You for breakthrough. No matter what it looks like, I know You have already won the victory on my behalf. I am ready to receive all You have for me. In the meantime, as I wait, I will do so with earnest expectation and an attitude of gratitude. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with you. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.
