I was doing my survey some days ago and I decided to welcome questions from people on what they would love me to write about. Believe me, It was one of a kind. I received responses I have never received before. It was all silence. Yeah, silence. I could hear screams from people in their silence. Smiles.
I was already thinking in my heart, could it be that people do not see my status or probably are not aware? What could have happened? Or does it mean, they just want to sit back and enjoy the flow of write-ups that comes from me? Probably, they want it to be one-sided the way it has been.
My thoughts were still going on until I saw a message popped up in my inbox. I jumped at it hurriedly. I mean, at least, someone has responded. My enthusiasm rose and at that point, I just wanted to know what the question was. And hence, I saw this question from a friend. I met her a couple of weeks ago and we exchanged contact as my usual practice is. I have learned never to allow anyone to bypass me without having their contacts. Its a wisdom use to build influence. This is because, in this age, it seems as if the shuffling system of life(don’t worry, I am going to write fully on this later) has grown so weird in its operation such that people tend to lose themselves so quickly. When you meet someone nowadays, if certain measures are not taken to ensure that that person is kept around your jurisdiction for friendship, you could easily lose the person. Not to death but to the shuffling system of life. The person gets to either leave your location or you do. So what you do in this age in other to sustain a relationship and build a long term friendship is to be intentional about contact.
Her message was starred at me as I read across the lines. How can a man trust God during storms or challenges? The question traveled straight into my heart. I could perceive that the question is coming from a heart that although has passed through a series of storms yet, still loves God. This really humbled my heart. I felt like a child hearing such questions. I thought in myself, if someone could ask this question, then I mustn’t take this for granted and hence, I have to look for a way to provide the answer not from my head but by the spirit.
I could have probably compiled so many theoretical answers together, just to suit her needs which is what we do nowadays that isn’t good enough. This is why people are not growing nor having an experiential change in their lives. Because when they are passing through something and they ask questions from people that they believe have answers to them, the answers they give them are mostly theoretical. They are formulated by head knowledge and lack the experiences or power that can cause the life of the questionnaire to be changed or experience transformation.
Sequel to this, I decided to give time to the question and ask God what could possibly be the answer I should give in response to the question.
He will guide you into all truths
Now, let me reveal a pearl of wisdom briefly, God does not always give you a response to what you ask him verbally, sometimes, he walks you through its experience. Take absolute note of this, one of the most powerful assignments of the Holy Ghost in the life of a believer is to guide him into all truth. Now, note the word, “guide” and “into“. These two words are words that show us that movement is involved. When you say “guide“, you are definitely saying that there is a particular location that is in view. Just like going on an excursion and you will need a “tour guide” to take you into different places that you are going to. And when you say “into“, it means a jurisdiction is to be accessed.
God does not always give you a response to what you ask him verbally, sometimes, he walks you through its experience.
The Holy Ghost is like a “tour guide” that takes us on an experiential journey into the full essence and realities of Jesus. So, Jesus was speaking to the disciples in John 16:13 (KJV) and he said: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come”. Don’t forget that He has already said earlier that “He is the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). What does that tell us? The truth that the Holy Ghost will “tour guide” us into, is the full essence and the realities of Jesus! That’s why when you walk continuously with the Holy Ghost, you will start becoming like Jesus (in fruits and gifts).
The Holy Ghost is like a “tour guide” that takes us on an experiential journey into the full essence and realities of Jesus
Furthermore, to ask you? If a tour guide wants to walk you round a place, are you going to be there or not? For example, if you are to be taking around a particular museum, will you stay outside as the person goes inside? No! You will follow the person. You will enter the different places he or she enters. This is how the Holy Ghost guides us into the realities that are resident in Christ. He makes us experience those things before we become it! So, if the Holy Ghost wants to teach you how to love, He will take you into an experience of love and from that experience, He will now begin to open your eyes to how to truly love from the perspective of the kingdom; the way Christ loves! This is why sometimes, it seems as if God will allow us to enter some mess and from there, He will now teach us His ways. It’s a strategy of the spirit to guide us into all truths. If you think it’s not true, why do you think the Bible says that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our capacity? (Paraphrasing- 1 Corinthians 10:13). It is because that’s a technology by which He fashions His realities into us. He will purposely allow us to enter into some experiences that seem not good enough so that we can learn the ways of the kingdom from them. Hmm, Let me stop digressing.
So, when I began to ask Him the question on how to truly trust God in times of storms or challenges, for him to answer my questions, He had to subject me to a temporal challenge! I have experienced so many storms and challenges by God’s grace but my attention has never been fully captured in how I was able to overcome those challenges. I just knew that somehow, I came out by his mercy. But, this wasn’t enough for me to coin an answer to the question. Hence, the Holy Ghost had to make me go through a temporal practical section and to see how I will overcome. He decided to guide me into a particular truth(trusting God in times of challenges) which I will be revealing in this post.
In order not to lengthen this post, I will not really dabble into the challenge I faced but the challenge almost brought me back to the ground. I almost stopped doing what I love doing. I almost made a decision not to embark on my long time goals anymore. But how did God make me pass through that storm to get back on my feet and what can you do too?
Hold God By His Words
Firstly, Hold God by His words (His words can be a word of prophecy, a personal revealed word from the scripture –Rhema or words from the scriptures- logos). When the challenge came, God helped me to communicate with one of my fathers (in faith) about it and he was the one God used to remind me of a major word of prophecy that was spoken to me by a great man of God in a particular meeting some years ago. This was a major breakthrough for me. That word came back afresh in my spirit and I began to receive strength to stand again. He was in that meeting years ago when the man of God located me by the spirit and gave me a major word that has kept me going!
Immediately he reminded me of that word, my heart began to glow again! I began to hold God by that word again and I say, Lord, now I know, this challenge is not the end, you have said this and I believe and I choose to do nothing but believe it!
This is a mighty technology. God has spoken things about your life. You have probably heard it directly from Him or from other people used by God. Hold it tangibly and choose to believe them. This is how life remains in your spirit even when you are passing through the thickest of times.
Many people in the scriptures might have given up; Men like Abraham who was promised a child for 25 years but nothing was coming. In fact, the prophecy captured not just a child but a nation and no single child was forthcoming. Same as Sarah and Hannah. Joseph had a dream and for years, nothing of such was coming. Noah was given a template to build the ark and for centuries, nothing like rain or flood was forthcoming. But these people decided to ignore the challenges and set their gaze on the promises that had been spoken to them. They stayed with the word and they held God by His word.
See The Glory Ahead
The next one that looks like it is, “see the glory ahead“. I tell you, this key is a very potent key in trusting God in a time of storm and challenges. Do you know how Jesus overcame all the challenges He faced on His way to the cross? In fact, the storm was so heavy that He got to a point that He had to start negotiating with the Father that “if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire” (Matthew 26:39).
He got to that junction that He could not continue any longer. The storm, challenges, and weight of the problem were so much on Him that he wanted to give up. But how was He able to strive and forged ahead to carry out the mandate? The Bible says in Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) that “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Note the word “For the joy that was set before him“! This is one of the most powerful keys the Holy Ghost opened my eyes to. There is a glory ahead! There is a joy ahead! No matter how bad things are or the challenges set your gaze ahead. Set your gaze at that glory that God has planned for you. Do you know why Peter sank while walking on water? He changed his gaze. The Bible says in Matthew 14:30 (KJV), ”But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me”. He began to look at the storm instead. He changed his gaze. He supposed to keep his gaze at Jesus but he started looking at the storm and the truth is, the more you look at the storm, the more you sink down.
I am not telling you this out of a theoretical explanation. I am telling you this because I entered into an experience of it.
Many patriarchs set their gaze on the glory. The Bible says in the book of Acts 7:54-60 (paraphrasing); when they were stoning Stephen, his eyes were opened and he saw the vision of heaven whereby Jesus standing at the right side of God. This vision made him surrender his spirit.
Paul in his time also gave a word in the book of 2Timothy 4:8 (KJV) “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”. This is to affirm to us that Paul was enduring all those sufferings because he saw and knew that a crown awaits him!
In conclusion, how can you trust God in times of tribulations, storms, and challenges? Get all the words or the major words He has spoken concerning your life and begin to rehearse them in His ears.”Lord, you have said concerning my life that I am the head and not the tail, I will speak and nations will hear my voice. You said you will make me a voice in my time, Lord, I believe and I hold you by your word. I know that your words will not come out and go back the same without accomplishing its essence”. And then, set your gaze ahead. Put your mind and heart to that word He has said concerning your life. Keep waiting on his promises, He will bring them to pass. Numbers 23:19 (KJV), “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
You are strengthened. Don’t relent. Whether in tribulations, storms or challenges, He is with you and even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, His rod and staff shall comfort you. Don’t give you, God bless you.
7 comments
(k)
Amen. God bless you really good Sir.
(k)
The Lord will continually fill you up!
Weldone sir, this is an exquisite piece and I must confess your wisdom is a bizarre one. More of anf less of you I pray
My God.. this blessed me.
Seriously, several times I had wanted to just let everything go, That word just has a way of calling out and putting me back on my feet again.
God bless you so much Sir. I'm greatly encouraged.
Wow, Thank you so much for the comment so far. Please for subsequent people, please, do leave your comment with YOUR NAME.
Thank you so much