What if That Distress Was God's Mercy?

 

What if That Distress Was God's Mercy?

What if that distress was the Lord's way of extending a hand of mercy? 

What if the enemy and adversary are a means for God to draw us closer to Him? 

The common question that floods most Gen Z is why do I need God in my life? "I've got everything figured out." But is this really true?

There are times the world refers to God as not merciful enough or maybe He doesn't really care about humanity, as it was said about Him, but this was God's response to the Israelites' plight in the Judges. 

Judges 2:19-22 AMP

20 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel; and He said, Because this people have transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and have not listened to My voice,

21 I from now on will also not drive out from before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died,

22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not.

The Lord had already given His word to the Israelites. He would drive away the occupants of Canaan land for His beloved people, but when His beloved people found comfort, they sought not the Lord who had delivered them. The Lord saw that whenever the people became comfortable and far from their adversary, He became an abandoned God.

God had ultimate provision in the plan. Protection wasn't neglected. Favor and whatsoever we desire, but God wants us first. He doesn't want to lose us to the gods of the world. He wants us to constantly converse with Him.

God meant it when He said He would give us rest, but there are times we become business people with God. We make Him a trader. We pray because there is a need; we seek Him because He would be "able to get us our wants and needs."

At first, when I began praying and fasting at the beginning of 2024, it was because I needed help, and I just felt God would be the only one to do that, so I kept on praying. When it took time, and the job wasn't coming through, I became bitter, and there were days I wouldn't pray or study His word.

When we pray, do we see it as a means to communicate with God, or just a way to get our needs met? 

Do we seek Him only when we're in trouble, or do we delight in His presence, asking Him, "How are you, Abba?"

And so, instead of asking the "why's, when, how," we just press in Him, to seek Him because He had said in Jeremiah 29:13, "You would find me if you seek me with all of your heart." 

What would happen if we pressed into seeking God, not just for our needs, but for who He is?

Let's ask Him, "How are you, Abba?" and see how our lives transform.

Stay Revived!

What does it mean to say our Help comes from the Lord?

God, Our Ever-Present Helper

Holy Spirit, help me recall the things I have written. These were my prayers on the day I unknowingly deleted a post after hearing about troubleshoot errors on my page. Holy Spirit, help me. When this happened, I was numb, not knowing where to start in order to correct what had been done. Then, I relied on the Holy Spirit. As I picked up my system, the Holy Spirit worked on my mind, and I typed another message.

King David was a man after God's heart because he knew how to access the Lord at all times. Even as a great king, there were moments when he needed help and someone to rely on. "I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from where does my help come?" (Psalm 121:1, ESV). In this passage, we see his consistent trust in the Lord and his confidence that God would come to his aid. When he said he would lift up his eyes to the hills, he was referring to the Lord who resides in the Holiest of Holies.

Psalm 121:1-6
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night."

God is constant in His care for His children. As children of God, we should always remember David's proclamation because it reflects God's thoughts toward us. His watchful eyes are always on us, preventing us from falling. Because of us, He never sleeps nor slumbers. I can only imagine what would happen to any of us if the Lord were to slumber. We would all be lost, because it is not the will of the devil for God's people to be happy. He wants to see us hungry, dejected, astray, weary, and in despair. But I bring a reminder today that there is a God who searches through all the earth. He is the greatest searcher, and when He searches, He reminds us of His help exactly when we need it most.

The Lord will never allow the enemy to win the battle over our lives and souls. He is the Lord, and forever He reigns and rules as the victor.

So, whenever the enemy comes in like a flood, always call on the Lord, for He will raise a standard against him. Hallelujah!

How do I know my Shoe fits?

GOD'S PERFECT FIT;" THOSE SHOES WON'T FIT''

As I grew into my thirties, I realized that I might not be a very fashionable individual, but like several women, I love to own nice, exquisite clothes, bags, and most especially shoes. I only found out I loved fashion wear and styles once I conversed with my sister, and she mentioned it.

One of the distinct ways God spoke to me as a teenager was through dreams. During my early twenties, when I had to make an important relationship choice, the Lord spoke to me through dreams, using worn-out, oversized shoes to highlight the fact that He didn't want that relationship for me. 

There were times I would pick out an old, worn-out shoe, and there were times it would be an oversized or undersized shoe. To me, as long as the shoes looked beautiful on the outside, that was all that mattered. As I dived into the relationship, despite God's "no," I got to see why the Lord had said no.

God says "no" to us in His special way. When the Lord says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9), that's God's own way of saying I know the perfect fit for you"

God doesn't want us to walk around in shoes that come off when we walk or shoes that leave blisters when we move. Shoes aren't just picked for their beauty; good shoes should ensure our comfort, no blisters, and no injuries when worn. The all-seeing God had already flipped the pages of the books written about us, and there are moments He goes out to say, "Beloved, those shoes don't fit."

These shoes could be beyond romantic relationships, friendships, business ideas, business deals, career paths, or locations – as long as they are choices that we have to live with each day. Trust the shoemaker. Trust in me with all of your heart; that is what the Lord is saying to me most times when I say, "But why no, or maybe I could manage."

There are times when God doesn't even tell us the "why" or "yes," and all He gives is the "no," "go," or "yes," and He just says, "Do you trust me?" When He says, "Those shoes don't fit," do you trust Him enough to give Him the wheel? Did He recently say to you, "Those shoes don't fit?" You're letting go of those shoes are you saying, "Lord, I trust you," and just like David, we affirm, "May I not be put to shame" (Psalm 31:17).

Stay Revived!

When will I be restored ?

A Word of Encouragement for Those Waiting on God

I recently spoke with someone who shared that she’s been sowing seeds of kindness and doing good for others but hasn’t seen any return or reward. Often, the blessings we hope for don’t come in the way we expect. That’s why God is a God of signs and wonders—He moves in ways that surprise us.

When I was a child, I used to imagine that the dry bones Ezekiel spoke to in his vision literally stood up and walked to Israel as living people. I thought the bones turned into humans and lived out in the world. Hahaha... I didn’t realize at the time that it was a vision God showed Ezekiel, symbolizing the revival of Israel.

Here’s what Ezekiel 37:10-14 says:

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.'

12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.

14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.

As the year draws to a close, many people feel like things are not going the way they had hoped. They may feel like God is not hearing their prayers or that their situation is hopeless. We might wonder how any breakthrough can come from the dryness and lack we see around us. “Our bones are dry, our hope is gone,” we might say.

But even when we can’t see it, God is still working. He is saying to us that He will breathe life into everything that seems dead or hopeless. He’s declaring that restoration and joy are coming, and in due time, we will smile again. God doesn’t need years to change the story of someone’s life. Just as He restored Israel, He will restore everything we’ve lost this year. We will finish the year in joy and rejoicing.

The Lord is putting His Spirit in us, and we will live triumphantly. He will settle us in our own place of blessing and promise. When that happens, we will know that He is the Sovereign Lord.

God has not forgotten or neglected us. He is always present and ready to give us what we desire. He stands at the door of our hearts, knocking, waiting for us to come to Him. Speak to Him today, and He will answer.

Stay revived!