After praying and believing God to steady his heart, in the wee hours of the morning, he finally realized he needed to head to the emergency room.
My dad, who just turned 82 in May, is in the hospital. He is having some issues with his heart. His blood pressure and sugar are also way too high. Doctors thought it best to admit Dad.
When I went to visit him yesterday afternoon, it was hard to tell anything was wrong. Had I not been aware of some of his medical challenges, if someone had told me Dad was anything other than the perfect picture of health, I might have gazed at them with an incredulous look. Not only was he upbeat and speaking words of faith, he was witnessing to others about God's power from his hospital bed.
Well, earlier today, I was thinking about Dad and praying for his health when God reminded me of something: I have to trust Him to take care of my father His way. I would love it for God to miraculously fix what's wrong. He is able. I have seen Him work miracles in my own life.
But even if He doesn't do it my way, I trust His way and submit to His will.
To help me submit to His sovereign will, the Lord took me back about two years and pointed out a former colleague's story as a frame of reference. I've shared it here before. In case you are unfamiliar with this particular story, I will post it again, along with the important lesson attached to it.
I remember my then co-worker walked up to me with tears in his eyes. The prognosis wasn’t good. The news was grim. It was brain cancer. When he told me his diagnosis, I was in the middle of my air shift at a local radio station where I used to host a daily show. I stopped everything and prayed with my fellow radio DJ.
“No matter what doctors say, we’re believing the Lord for your healing,” I told him. “God is able and I’m expecting to hear a testimony.”
I know there is nothing too hard for God—not even the Big C! Well, as time went on, things got rough. I didn’t see him at work. I asked how he was doing and if anyone had heard from him. That's when I discovered the details of the delicate situation. He had to have brain surgery and some were concerned that he would never be the same again. I kept on praying and seeking God.
“I know you’re able, Lord,” is all I kept saying.
So, let's fast forward a bit. My cancer-free colleague (Hallelujah!) sat down and talked to me at our station's Christmas party about how grateful he is that it had been a full year since surgery. He was strong, talking normally, walking fine and doing great. He even told me about some of the exciting projects and plans he had lined up. During the process, however, things didn’t go smoothly. The surgery was risky. He dealt with a lot of pain. The method by which God brought healing to this man wasn’t ideal. But God is sovereign. He does things the way He pleases.
In life, whatever you're going through--whether that be illness, relationship troubles, financial problems, emotional issues, work-related turmoil, or ministry setbacks--you have to trust God to rectify things His way. At some point in our lives, we all wish things could be easier, that God would work a miracle and instantly resolve our issues. Though He can, He doesn't always do that.
Releasing your notions and ideas about the way things should go is a must. Otherwise, you’ll be discouraged, frustrated and in the way of what God is trying to do. Although it's human nature to want to control things, God doesn't fit in a neat little box. So don't try to fence Him in. Don't attempt to predict His method. Just be open to receive. What He has for you is good.
I’m reminded of how an inflexible Jewish leader learned this lesson in a very public way according to Luke 13:10-17. Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue on the Sabbath when he noticed a hunched over woman. The Bible says, for 18 years, a spirit of infirmity made it impossible for her to stand up straight. To look at her, through carnal eyes, it appeared that she was physically impaired. But the Bible lets us know a spiritual issue caused a physical manifestation. So Jesus called the woman over and said, “Woman thou art loosed from thine infirmity.” He laid hands on her and immediately, she stood up straight.
In an instant, Jesus freed her from a spiritual stronghold that had her bound for nearly two decades. All it takes is one touch from the Master to turn things around!
But what if God doesn't miraculously heal you that way? What if He elects to allow you to go through a drawn out medical process, undergo surgery and endure a slow, painful recovery? Is He any less good, powerful and worthy of praise?
Of course not. He's awesome, however He does what He does. But sometimes, we tend to act like the legalistic officials in Luke. They weren't rejoicing over what the Lord did. You know why? Because they couldn't help but focus on the fact that they didn't prefer the way Jesus healed this woman’s spiritual infirmity. He did it on the Sabbath, the day of rest. So one of the officials got mad and disrupted this incredible moment of deliverance to make an announcement. He told the people, “Six days have been defined as work days. Come on one of the six if you want to be healed, but not on the seventh, the Sabbath.”
This person was trying to define work days, but no one can define what days God decides to work. This out-of-order leader, in his mind, was ensuring that things were done decently and in order in the synagogue. He failed to realize that everything is subject to divine order. When God says it’s time, who are we to say otherwise?
Whether He does it quickly or slowly, on our preferred timetable, using our preferred method, or not, His way is always right.
In this passage of scripture, Jesus set this carnal leader—and any other critics—straight. The Message Bible states verses 15 and 16 this way: “But Jesus shot back, ‘You frauds! Each Sabbath every one of you regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for water, and thinks nothing of it. So why isn’t it all right for me to untie this daughter of Abraham and lead her from the stall where Satan has had her tied these eighteen years?’”
Jesus schooled naysayers on a fundamental principle: you can’t legislate a move of God. When God is ready to deliver, heal and work miracles, He doesn’t stop and ask others how they feel about it. He is sovereign. He does what He wants to do, when He wants to do it, and how He wants to do it.
Friend, in order to receive what God is releasing with a heart full of gratitude and expectation, you must remain open.
"God's about to do great things in your life. Remain open. Let Him have His way. Don't try to box Him in."
He is loosing chains, breaking down strongholds, releasing harvests, working miracles, opening doors, destroying yokes and doing a new thing. But here’s what you have to know: what you’re waiting for won’t happen the way you’re expecting it to. God’s will rarely falls in line with our way. If you can prepare your mind and open your heart to accept God’s will, you will be perfectly positioned to reap the next harvest coming your way. It is indeed coming.
If you've been praying for an instantaneous release, but your breakthrough seems slow manifesting, consider what God said to the biblical prophet Habakkuk who was frustrated because God had not moved against Israel's enemies. Recently I shared how he wanted to know why the Lord hadn't acted yet. In Habakkuk 1, he complained to God that opposing nations were terrorizing them, worshiping false gods, doing all sorts of wrong and still seemed to be relaxing on a flowery bed of ease. He said in verse 1, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?”
He said, “I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint.” As he awaited God’s response, Habakkuk stood at his watch or in a “watch tower,” which was an elevated platform that served as a security or early warning system if enemies were invading.
Watch towers were popular among families in ancient times. You see, during harvest time, enemies and critters would infiltrate and steal crops. So families would sleep in these towers and take turns watching to keep intruders from robbing them. The guardpost that Habakkuk mentioned also provided reinforcement, defense and fortification.
How powerless must Habakkuk have felt, standing in a watch tower designed to protect him from enemies, and not be able to stop the attack!
But God had an answer for the prophet’s complaint, which is what I'm stirring into your cup of inspiration today. It is found in Habakkuk 2:2-3, which says, "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, It will not tarry…”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, remember these words. Breakthrough will surely come. It won't necessarily happen how or when you want it to, but it will happen! God told Habakkuk that the enemy would not rule forever. Ultimately, the Sovereign One would get vengeance and deliver His people. So in the midst of the delay, Habakkuk was not to assume that, that meant denial, because God was going to act.
The Lord was going to move.
And He did.
Friend, trust God. He knows exactly where you're headed. He has a plan for your life. In fact, the Lord, in His infinite wisdom and with His impeccable timing has preordained the exact day and time of your set time.
You cannot speed it up or slow it down. You can only wait in anticipation of what awesome things are coming your way. Again, it won't happen the way you expect it. In fact, it will be better.
Be assured.
Your day is on the way!
Now let's pray.
God, I know that You are a healer, way-maker and miracle-worker. I have seen You perform miracles and do the impossible. You are more than able. But I also know there are times when we must endure hardship, struggle, and experience difficulty along the journey. During these seasons, help me hold firmly to Your hand and remain fully confident that You will, in Your timing, and according to Your plan, bring me out victoriously! Thank You in advance. I trust You, oh Lord, with all my heart. 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.
