I went through a very tough situation where nobody could help me out. Several people prayed for me but there was no change. Others connected me to anointed men and women of God for prayer but there was no change whatsoever .In fact somebody told God while praying for me that instead of blessing him, God should consider me first. All of this was touching. And I don’t mean to say that those prayers were useless, but that man’s agenda wasn’t exactly God’s agenda for me at that point in time. It was a time for going through the furnace, and I came out with great lessons and stronger than ever.
Having been there I can tell you that, there will be situations that may come your way that you have to tough out alone with God. When Jesus went to pray at the garden of gethsemane, he went with three of his disciples, that they would watch and pray with him, but two times when he went to check on them, he found them sleeping. That was the night when he prayed that the father would remove the cup from him. Jesus’ heart was very heavy and he felt all alone. Some good company would have relieved him a bit but even that was denied him.
Have you been there or worse still are you in that season right now? Don’t despair, help is on the way.
SCRIPTURE John 5:1-9, Jeremiah 17:5-8, 2Chronicles 15 and 16,Isaiah 30:2-5, Psalms 20:7-8,
There is a story of an invalid man who was crippled for 38 years. When Jesus asked him, “……..would you like to get well? The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come into it myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me” (Verses 6-7).
It’s not good for man to live without friends or close relatives. It robs you of many blessings. Yet there are people like that. It’s not even that they don’t have but for some reason, they are alone.
Jesus never judged this man nor did he get angry with him, but he left a great lesson for us, to stop putting our expectation on men to meet our needs. Don’t get me wrong. God can use men and women to bless us one way or the other but when we stop trusting in God, or praying, or waiting on Him, then either you are depending on yourself or on someone else and that doesn’t please Him.
During such hard times as this of Covid 19, when there is great need around us, many people are looking up to their governments, churches, relatives and friends who have more, hoping that they will help them but may be it hasn’t happened. And right now you are frustrated, angry and even curse those who didn’t help you.
I remember a few weeks after the lockdown in Uganda, I got word that there some families from the community that were struggling because of lack of food, I posted a request in one of church forums requesting members to step in and help these people, but I got no response whatsoever. Mind you this forum was for Christians. I never got offended with anybody, but I was reminded that more than ever before, there was need to trust in the Lord, who is our sufficiency. God actually made away for these people to get help.
I believe today, the Lord is calling each one of us who have put our trust elsewhere to return to that place of trusting in Him alone to meet our needs.
David said; “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are bowed down and fallen, but we are risen and stand upright” (Psalms 20:7-8).
Chariots rust and horses can break or die, so they aren’t reliable. The current situation can testify. With so many businesses locked down people with money could not spend their money. Almost everything came to a standstill, but people who know the Lord, kept going, because even if the church buildings were closed, they still had access to God. They prayed and continued to share the gospel with others.
Jeremiah 17:5-8 says, “This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord”
The Lord said to Israel, “Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord, who take counsel and carry out a plan, but not mine ………..who set out to go to Egypt and have not asked me-to flee to the stronghold of Pharaoh and to strengthen themselves in his strengthen and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! There shall the strength and protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt be to your humiliation and confusion” (Isaiah 30:1-3)
God declared these harsh pronouncements over Israel because they had sought help from a man and not him. God’s reaction to the trust in man is further illustrated in the story of King Asa found in 2 Chronicles 15 &16.
When Asa was in trouble the first, he turned to God for help and the Lord gave hive victory over a vast army. However the second time he was faced with war, he sought an alliance with King (Ben-Hadad) and God became very displeased with him.
“At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa King of Judah and said to Him, because you relied on the King of Syria and not on the Lord your God, the army of the King of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and Libyans a huge army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied then on the Lord, He gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars. 2Chron 16:7-9. (WHAT A REBUKE!!!)
LESSONS DRAWN
• Our God is a loving Father but He is also a jealous God. Like in the above scriptures, depending on man, displeases Him and may attract great troubles upon your life.
• It doesn’t matter how long your condition has taken, God knows about it and will come to save you. (Isaiah 35:3-4)
• Even if it seems like you are all by yourself in this life, take heart God is with you always and he will come to save you. (Psalms 71:5-6, 73:25, Isaiah 35:1-5)
CONCLUSION
Rid your heart of any anger, wrath or bitterness you have held toward those who haven’t helped you as you expected. Keep your eyes on Christ alone in all situations. He is our exceeding reward and when we trust him, He will open doors for you beyond expectation.
