Thursday, February 21, 2013

Rejoicing in Trouble


“Breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet.” (Ezekiel 37:10 NKJV)

Your hopes may be dead, your dreams buried, your body run down, emotionally drained and spiritually weak. However, God can breathe life into you again. Ezekiel stood in a valley of dead, dry bones. That’s about as bad as it gets, right? Then something amazing happened. God said to the Prophet, “Prophesy…and say…‘Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army” (vv. 9-10 NKJV).

Personally speaking, I have had times in my journey when I was so weak it took everything I had to speak in faith and believe God heard me and say the exact thing. Those times are challenging and almost debilitating to say. In fact you begin to reason away or ask why even bother to make the effort. We are looking at self and limitations. BUT God turns it all around even if it is only one degree. Hope begins to circulate through your heart once again. Remember, any time you see a man or woman enjoying great success in God’s kingdom there’s a good chance they’ve been through the valley of devastation, hurt and rejection. Two example come to mind.  Paul-- It was after he had been thrown out of the city, stoned and left for dead, that he spoke of being taken up into the third heaven and experiencing things too wonderful to speak of on earth (See 2 Corinthians 12:2-4). David said, “In the day of trouble …my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me…I will sing…to the Lord” (Ps 27:5-6 NIV). That’s how you praise in difficult situations, you are able to look back and say, “Thank you for the experience, Lord. Without it I’d never have gotten to know You like I do today.”

There is always something that God has planned just ahead of you, but you have to get there and get through!!  Please don’t let the appearance of defeat cause you to shrink back. Instead boldly stand up with faith in God and declare …‘Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’
 
Blessings,