Disappointment With Those We Look Up To; Those We Live With; Those We Work With & Depend On And Those We Have Poured Our Life Into. But There Is One Last Disappointment I Want Us To Dig Into In Today's Devotional.

 Today’s Devotional: Proverbs 13:12, “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a…good break can turn life around.”

If you are still living—then disappointment is inevitable!  Webster defines disappointment as, “When expectations fail to be met, producing anger, frustration, sadness and discouragement.”

With that said, here are some examples to help you when:

1.. YOUR DISAPPOINTED WITH THOSE YOU LOOK UP TO: Think of Samuel and Eli (1 Samuel 1-4). Samuel’s mother entrusted her child to Eli the High Priest, confident he would mentor and prepare him for God’s service. But Eli had a serious character flaw! He was a weak, passive parent who stood by while his own sons abused their priestly privilege, bringing shame and disrepute to the family and ministry! There is a very befitting quote that says, “He who thinketh he leadeth and hath no one following him is only taking a walk.” (Author Unknown) I believe it is fair to say that Eli was “…only taking a walk.” I mean with a “mentor” like Eli, who would have even blamed young Samuel for taking a nosedive right into the very heart of immorality, when the man he looked up to failed him so badly?! But no, instead he fielded his disappointment and kept his eyes on God: The Bible says, “…Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him.” (1 Samuel 3:19). And as a result, God turned him into one of Israel’s Greatest Prophets! Henry Ward Beecher accurately stated: “Ones best success comes after their greatest disappointment.” Well Done, Samuel, Well Done! So, how are we to deal with the disappointment we feel in those we look up to, that let us down? Because it is bound to happen at some point in life. Whether it is a parent, clergy, family, friend, business associate, spouse, governmental official, etc., we are bound to be let down by those we look up to. But does that give us license to lower our standards because they did not raise theirs? Absolutely Not! Samuel grew and the Lord was with him. You see, even when Eli messed up his Role, Samuel maintained his Character. He never attacked Eli, he did not bash him, he did not talk about him, he did not spread rumors, lies, gossip or even Truth about him. No, Samuel just lived the life of a good leader, which reminds us that we can point fingers and lay blame, but where does that get us, even if we are in the right?! The better bet is to take the high road. Live right, think right, speak right, behave right, no matter how wrong your surroundings or the people in them. So, the next time someone you look up to lets you down, keep them in prayer and be a mirror to them showing them the reflection of what good (not perfect) looks like. Why? Because Eli died and missed out, but the person you look up to does not have to. So, share your heart with them gently and honestly, then whether they agree or disagree, you move onward showing everyone that you can learn a good lesson even from a bad example! Do not judge them, just refuse to make their same errors in judgment. You can do it; I know you can!

2.. YOU’RE DISAPPOINTED IN THOSE YOU LIVE WITH: If anyone would not let you down, surely it would be your family, right? Wrong! Just ask young Joseph. When his father favors him and God promised him a big dream, you would think his own blood brothers would celebrate him and celebrate with him! But instead, they responded with jealousy, anger, spite, bitterness, ridicule, and resentment, while dropping him in a pit, then selling him into slavery! Far from friends and home he languished in prison for a crime he did not commit! What an invitation to bitterness, and an opportunity to rehearse the wrongs done him while plotting his revenge. But if he had done that, he would have died an innocent, unknown convict in a foreign jail! Instead, he allowed God to vindicate him, using his circumstances to position, prepare and promote him to being Egypt’s Prime Minister—now that is how you deal with disappointment! Robert Kiyosaki said: “The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.” Well Done, Joseph, Well Done! So, how do you deal with family, your own blood, that stabs you in the back? What happens when the attack is from an assailant under your own roof? What do you do when it is your sibling that drops you in the pit, or your cousin that sells you out, or your auntie that lands you behind bars?! How do you recover when it was a relative that inflicted the hurt?! You do as Joseph did, you trust God throughout the entire process! Nowhere do we read that Joseph cried out ‘why me God’; he did not blame dad for not being there to protect him; he did not retaliate against the cupbearer who forgot him; he did not get angry with the whole world and try to issue his own form of the big payback. As he went from disaster-to-disaster God never left his side. In every bad, God produced something good. Now, is it easy, especially when it is blood, to just trust the vindication and vengeance to God alone? No! But it is the best way to handle it, to put what you will mishandle in the hands of God! In the end, those same relatives had to come and bow before Joseph, will that happen with you, probably not, but isn’t it worth it to trust God and let Him work? Maybe, just maybe, you will at least get the apology and more importantly, you will get the reconciliation. Saints, take the high road my friends, even when it is family that is trying to drive you off course!

3.. YOU’RE DISAPPOINTED IN THOSE YOU WORK WITH AND DEPEND ON: To succeed, you need people; you cannot make it without them! And when those people fail you, it is painful. Imagine Moses’ disappointment. He leaves his brother Aaron in charge while he attends a summit conference with God and receives the Ten Commandments. Returning, he finds Israel in anarchy, idolatry, and unspeakable perversion! And where’s Aaron you ask? Leading the Rebellion! When Moses needs him Most, Aaron fails him Miserably! But watch Moses, true leadership shines even in darkest of disappointment! He confronts Aaron, takes the mess to God for resolution, and prays forgiveness for Israel! God listens, then reminds Moses of his assignment! [It is disappointing, Moses, but…] – “…go, lead the people…my angel will go before you…” (Exodus 32:34 NIV). People of God, disappointment does not cancel your assignment—nor does it close the door on God’s presence! So, go forth, even during disappointment, and do what He sent you to do! “Man must be disappointed with the lesser things of life before he can comprehend the full value of the greater.” (Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton). Well Done, Moses, Well Done! So, leaders, dare I even ask if you have ever been disappointed by your leaders? Surely you have, many of us have. But that does not mean you disown them; you do not give up on them; you do not give them the cold shoulder; you do not attempt to replace them; you do not ignore them; and certainly, you do not retaliate tit-for-tat with them! No, you follow Moses’ example. Take the issue before God! Let Him tell you how to handle it, not your ‘inner circle’; not your clique; not your buddies and pals; not people you know do not like them; and certainly, you do not attempt to get back at them from over the pulpit! Moses took the issue he had with Aaron his leader, to God. And God could have told Moses get rid of Aaron, you do not need him, you are the key person to this assignment anyhow. No, He simply tells Moses to not focus on the attack but on his assignment, “…go, lead the people…my angel will go before you…” Leaders, I do not have to tell you just how difficult it is to lead people, especially those who are stiff-necked, hardheaded, and rebellious! But do you get to retaliate? Nope! You are still held accountable for your leadership, your life and lifestyle and your responses to offense. Your character and integrity must remain intact. You must still be above reproach, even when those you lead keep falling under it! Yes, the disappointment hurts, but you cannot let the wound infect your assignment. Do what Moses did, take it to God, receive His directives, and continue. Why? Because God said, “…go, lead the people…” which means others will be affected by how you respond when disappointed. Do not let childish immaturity be the only way your followers can describe your leadership. Handle it, rise above it, and keep moving the people forward! Do not mess up your ministry because you are mad!

4.. YOU’RE DISAPPOINTED IN THOSE YOU’VE POURED YOUR LIFE INTO: Let us check in again with Moses, Founding Pastor of the First Church of the Critical and the Ungrateful, a congregation of former slaves, delivered, abundantly blessed, end route to the Promised Land, but without a shred of loyalty or gratitude for the man who put everything on the line to make it all possible! Fresh out of Egypt they turn on Moses, accusing, blaming, and berating him (Exodus 14). Was Moses disappointed and hurt by it? Sure, who wouldn’t be?! But each time he wanted to quit he would discuss it with God, pray for his complaining flock, receive fresh orders from headquarters and return to work! It is what “God-Called” men and women do when they are disappointed and feel like giving up! “If you use disappointments as sort of mid-semester exams, for learning, you will learn that every disappointment you overcome makes you stronger—and wiser. The greatest success stories have been lived by those who had to grow strong and wise in that very way.” (Loretta Young). Once Again, Well Done Moses, Well Done! Leaders, once again I want to encourage you, because it is not easy to take one vision and try to get an entire house to see and follow it. I know it would be wonderful to have the whole house on the same page, however, realistically, our churches are family trees with a whole lot of mixed nuts! One person wants the school; the other person thinks the school will not work; the other person does not mind a school, but does not like the blueprint of the school, and all the while you wish you could throw all of them in detention and keep building the vision by yourself. But unfortunately, pastors, it does not quite work out that way. We are a part of One body with many members, and every member is vital to the health and wellbeing of the whole. So even when it seems like you cannot get one good solid supporter, remember you always have God and with Him you are in the majority! Moses led a frustrated, frustrating bunch of complainers, but did he throw in the towel? No, and neither will you. Like it or not, but you will pour even more of your life into the people, and some of them have eternal leaks, but that is not your problem! Their capacity is for God to handle, you simply pour of yourself into them. God will never allow you to dry out and die, He will continue to replenish you, His Chosen Vessel of Honor. Therefore, understand that disappointment will visit, but do not let it move in! Stay the course, God has got you!  

Now take a moment and look at 1 Samuel 15:10-12, “…God spoke to Samuel: “I am sorry I ever made Saul’s king. He turned his back on me. He refuses to do what I tell him.” Samuel was angry when he heard this. He prayed his anger and disappointment all through the night…” (MSG). As already stated, if you are still living; disappointment is inevitable! But might I add, it is not ‘Impregnable’, which means ‘Unable to Overcome’! You see, when anger and disappointment threatened Samuel, he fought back in Prayer! If you are smart, you will do the same! Disappointment only delivers a death blow to those who do not fight back! You can literally read those verses and feel Samuel’s anger, after all, do you know how mad you must be to pray angry and disappointed…All Through the Night?! But sometimes prayer is the best thing, because when you are hurt, angry and disappointed, your mouth runs faster than your mind. So, you tend to say some things that you meant to say and a whole lot more that you did not! But when you empty all of that out to God in prayer, He is a master-sorter, He knows how to pick through that prayer for what is really needed. Therefore, no matter how great the disappointment, take it to God FIRST in prayer, even if you must enter your prayer closet hurt, disappointed, bitter, angry, confused, rejected, abandoned, used, betrayed, lied on, suicidal, take it all to God in prayer, even if that prayer will last long into the night! Thank God, He never sleeps or slumbers! Take it to Him, then rest in Him, knowing He is going to bring something good, out of your something bad!

Now, we have talked about disappointment with those we look up to; those we live with; those we work with and depend on and those we have poured our life into. But there is one last disappointment I want us to dig into, and that’s:

5.. DISAPPOINTMENT IN OURSELVES! It is potentially the most debilitating kind of disappointment because it can throw you into a downward spiral that is hard to stop or recover from! Rollo May said: “Depression is the inability to construct a future.” And for most of us, who can tell the whole truth, we have had so many little disappointments along the way that we cannot even fathom a pencil-sketch of a big future! Well, there’s an even better quote that I want you to hold on to by Albert Ellis, he said: “You largely Construct your depression. It was not given to you. Therefore, you can Deconstruct it.” You see, mounting disappointments are a map with all directions pointing towards the destination of depression! But remember, anything you can CONSTRUCT, you can also DECONSTRUCT, or cause the destruction of”. The other definition I like is, “to dismantle and expose the workings of.” If you have built up and constructed disappointments in your life, you can also grab your toolkit and deconstruct those same disappointments. Take them apart, dismantle them and expose the works behind them, so you can ensure that what worked before in building that disappointment, will not ever work again! And even if “YOU” brought the discouragement, disappointment and depression on yourself, there is still a way to recover! JUST ASK PETER! Peter had sworn undying love and fidelity to Jesus. “Lord, everybody else may abandon you, but not me! I’m yours till death.” (Read—Matthew 26:33-75). And he meant every word of it! But under the pressures surrounding the crucifixion, he yields, and three times denies knowing Jesus. Later, remembering Jesus’ words, “Before the rooster crows, you’ll deny me three times,” Peter, heartbroken BY HIS OWN DISMAL FAILURE, “went outside and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:62 NIV).

Have you ever been there, asking: “God, how can You possibly use someone as messed up as me?” I lost the job; I flunked out of school; I had this baby out of wedlock; I have a prison record; I fell off the wagon again; I’ve destroyed my finances; my health is falling apart; my marriage is on life support and we’re both ready to pull the plug; I can’t even remember the last time I prayed or fasted or studied Your word; I can’t remember the last time my hands clapped, my feet danced or praise was on my lips and worship in my spirit. Lord my family is a feuding mess; the loans were denied; the bills are about to drown me; there is so much to pray for regarding my kids, I do not even know where to start; my parents are getting sicker; God I cannot get two sentences to make sense in my head, Lord, why are you still trying to use me?!

Listen, Peter failed to meet his own expectations, but Jesus was never shocked! He was aware of Peter’s flaws when He called him into the ministry. He knew that His blustering, outspoken disciple had a tender heart, so He extended grace to him rather than remove him from office! And as disqualified as you may feel from all your disappointments in life, God is not going to remove you from office or your assignment either!  

When Christ gave post-resurrection orders to “…tell His disciples and Peter…” (Mark 16:7 NIV) to meet Him in Galilee, He reaffirmed His choice of the failed disciple! The rest of Peter’s story is New Testament History!

So, Yes, You Can Recover Even from Disappointment in Yourself!

Jeremiah 18:1-6, “God told Jeremiah, “Up on your feet! Go to the potter’s house. When you get there, I’ll tell you what I have to say.” So, I went to the potter’s house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, THE POTTER WOULD SIMPLY START OVER AND USE THE SAME CLAY TO MAKE ANOTHER POT. Then God’s Message came to me: “Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?” God’s Decree! “Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you, people of Israel. At any moment I may decide to pull up a people or a country by the roots and get rid of them. But if they repent of their wicked lives, I will think twice and start over with them. At another time I might decide to plant a people or country, but if they do not cooperate and will not listen to me, I will think again and give up on the plans I had for them.” (MSG)

So let up on yourself! If you think you have ruined God’s purpose and plan for your life because of your screw ups, you clearly have underestimated God’s love, care, protection, and provision for you! You are not strong enough on your worst day to dismantle God’s assignment on your life! Neither your mistakes nor your deliberate, willful sin, can hinder what God has for you! So, know this, today is the day you forgive yourself and determine to be better today than you were yesterday, and better tomorrow than you will be today! Every day He gives you brand new mercies, and not so you can keep going over old disappointments.

Friends, if last night was not your LAST night, God still has much in store for you! So, stop beating yourself up, sometimes God uses our greatest disappointments as reappointments to life and ministry! He has not given up on you, so do not give up on yourself! It is a new day, make a renewed you, and fulfill your purpose in life! God is waiting to hand you your next assignment, now get back to work!

THIS IS THE YEAR YOU OVERCOME AND SURVIVE EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT!

“Disappointments are just God’s way of saying, ‘I’ve got something better.’ So be patient, have faith and live your life.” (Author Unknown)

“Disappointments are inevitable, Discouragement is a choice.” (Author Unknown)

“It is how you handle your disappointments that define you as a person. If you get up after the fall or just lay, there in defeat.” (Author Unknown)

“When you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointments, defeat and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way.” (Paulo Coelho)

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

Genuine Faith Says: “I Don’t Care Where I Have to Go, Whatever God Says, I’ll Do It!” Real Faith Needs No Explanation In Order To Act! The Faith That God Responds To Does Not Require Understanding Of The Orders, Just Obedience In Carrying Them Out.

James 2:26, “The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.” (MSG)

We become so engrossed in what we see, feel, and hear, that we operate within our natural senses rather than our spiritual ones! However, the Bible instructs us: “THROUGH YOUR FAITH, God is protecting you by His power” (1 Peter 1:5 NLT). Therefore, you need to keep in mind that your “FAITH” is what Activates the Power of God in your life! Just imagine if you dared to increase your mustard seed faith and started nurturing it to grow bigger, taking it to new levels, what would God release in your life?! Because He heals, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He delivers, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He saves, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He Opens and Shuts Doors, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He grants opportunities that you do not even qualify for, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He protects you with His power…THROUGH YOUR FAITH! So, What’s The Pulse Of Your Faith Today? Can you even feel it anymore, or have you become so conditioned to living in the comfort zone, in the familiar, in fear that it is barely alive anymore? 

Look at it this way: Before a stone becomes a diamond, it is just carbon put under millions of pounds of pressure! Which helps us understand better what the Bible means when it says, “These TRIALS will show that your FAITH is genuine” (vs. 7 NLT). You See, Trouble Not Only Places A Demand On Your Faith, But Reveals The Depth Of It! Truth is, you do not really know much about your faith when your bills are paid, your body is healthy, your children are acting right, and your marriage is intact! But When All Hell Is Breaking Loose and You Trust God To Bring You Through It, You Know You’ve Got Genuine Faith! When you trust God even with the disconnect notice in the mail or the eviction notice stapled to the door; when you have faith in God when the finances are in an exceeding drought; when you rely on God and yet have no idea where the bill money is coming from, where the gas money is coming from, where the rent, mortgage, car note, insurance and tuition money is coming from; when you continue to quote the Word even when the doctor hits you with yet another diagnosis! This is when the testing of your faith proves if it is genuine, or if it is just another form of godliness! 2 Timothy 3:5, "holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them." (AMP)

You see, when trials hit, the enemy attacks your mind, your rest, your peace, your emotions, and your thought life! So what can you do?  Lift the shield of faith and stop his flaming arrows: “…take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” and use it to drive him back! (Ephesians 6:17 NKJV). That is what genuine faith does when the attacks of life come, blow by blow! Faith wields the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God; it uses that Word to drive the enemy back! For instance, genuine faith speaks healing when the doctor speaks sickness; it speaks covenant when the marriage is speaking divorce; it speaks peace when the whole household speaks chaos; it speaks life when depression is telling you to slit your wrists and die! Genuine faith refuses to allow circumstances and situations, trials, struggles and tribulations to cause it to get in the bed and pull the covers over its head. No, genuine faith gets up every morning without an alarm clock and continues to go to work!

People of God, Put Your Faith To Work! Say, “Enough is Enough”, and begin to take back what the enemy has stolen from you! David Did! The Bible says, “David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray you, bring me the ephod. And Abiathar brought him the ephod. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? The Lord Answered Him, Pursue, For You Shall Surely Overtake Them And Without Fail Recover All.” (1 Samuel 30:7-8 Amp). In Other Words, Stop Whining and Whimpering and Wield Your Weapon! Get The Word And Put Your Faith To Work! All You Need Is The Go-Ahead From God, And When You Get It, Go Forth, Because You Will Recover All And Without Fail! Take heart, this fight my friend is already fixed in your favor, so you have absolutely nothing to worry about! You will succeed because God has already spoken that you will not fail!

Listen to another example, the Syrian army had surrounded the city of Samaria and its population was dying of starvation. Having lived off scraps of bread that folks threw over the wall each day, four lepers quickly assessed that they were in trouble. They said, “WHY SIT HERE UNTIL WE DIE?” (2 Kings 7:3 TLB). So, they went into the city, only to discover God had worked a miracle, causing the Syrians to flee in terror, leaving behind them food, water, and riches! What do we learn from these four lepers? Refuse To Sit There And Die! When You Put Your Faith Into Action, God Will Go To Work On Your Behalf! But You Have To Rise Up And Say: “If I’m Going To Die, I’m Going To Do It Reaching For Something, Building Something, Going After Something!” I Refuse To Just Sit Here And Die When I Still Have Options! And my greatest option is that I still have faith in GOD!

When It Feels Like You are Down For The Count Of Ten, You Have To Rise Up And Say: “I Shall Not Die, But Live, And Declare The Works Of The Lord” (Psalm 118:17 NKJV). That Kind Of Faith Gets God’s Attention Every Time! It is a declaration and decree that I will not give up, I will not give in, I will not give out, I will not throw in the towel, I will not quit, I will not give the enemy the opportunity to see me die when I can live and continue to declare the works of the Lord! Your faith is your ammunition when the enemy tries to come in and snuff out your life. You open your mouth and speak faith that silences fear, and live! Your Mouth Has The Power Of Life And Death, But The Choice Is Always Yours, After All, It Is Your Mouth! Make The Wise Decision Today To Speak Life!

You see, I have learned from personal experience, when you get DESPERATE enough in your faith, you will not even care who God uses to help you, you will be willing to receive any help He sends your way! Just ask Naaman! Naaman the leper, a five-star general in the Syrian army, humbled himself and eventually became willing to listen to a girl who washed dishes and made beds in his house! (Listen: When Somebody Has an Answer From God To Deliver To You, You Will not Care Who The Messenger Is!) Genuine faith says, ‘I just need the message to be God delivered, and I don’t care if the delivery man/woman is an usher, janitor, drunk, maid, donkey, bus driver, bird, water, sanitation worker, hobo, CEO, young, old, black, white, male or female, leader or laity, seated high or seated low, age 8 or age 80, I just need the message to be God delivered to me!’ Genuine faith cares about the content of the message on the inside, not the kind of labeling of the container on the outside!

Think about it, Naaman was even willing to dip seven times in the dirtiest river around, to come up clean (2 Kings 5:1-19). Genuine Faith Says: “I Don’t Care Where I Have to Go, What I Have To Do, Or Who I Have To Listen To, Whatever God Says, I’ll Do It!” Saints, Why Live With A Disease When You Can Simply Believe God, Trust What He Says, And Put Your Faith To Work?! I Mean Why Die When You Can Live?! Why die in fear when you can live in faith?!

Luke records: “As He…passed through…Samaria…there met Him ten…lepers, who…lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So, when He saw them, He said…’Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed” (vss. 11-14 NKJV). Lepers were social outcasts, So They Lived Together In A Colony! But The Problem Is, You Cannot Get Well, Hanging Around People Who Are Just As Sick As You Are! And this is where we mess up because we do not take the problem to Jesus; we take it to people, and often, people who are worse off than we are! I mean if you do not have any money, what is the point in telling Michelle who is broker than you? If your marriage is on the rocks, why are you telling Keith whose marriage is on life support? If your children are failing in school whey tell Lisa whose daughter dropped out 3 months ago? If the doctor said it is Cancer, why tell it to Paul who do not have enough faith to believe God to heal him from the common cold? Are you getting this? You cannot heal in the same colony of folks who are just as sick (or sicker) than you! This means you need to bring the problem to JESUS! The Bible says, “When evening came, They Brought To Him Many Who Were Under The Power Of Demons, And He Drove Out The Spirits With A Word And Restored To Health All Who Were Sick.” (Matthew 8:16 Amp). In Other Words, Do not Just Sit There And Die! And Do not Hang Around Those Who Are Dying Either! Get Up And Get To Jesus! Why? Because He will Drive Out Those Demonic Spirits With A Word And Restore You And All Attached To You To Health! I reiterate, why sit in fear, and die when you can walk by faith and live?!

Also, notice the words, “HE PASSED THROUGH…” Jesus did not go to the leper colony, He was just passing through. What do you do when you are losing your life, your family, your health, your peace, your joy, your job, your mind, your finances, etc.…and Jesus doesn’t even seem to be looking in your direction? You can get frustrated when it feels like He’s blessing everybody but you, and wonder, “Lord, when is my turn coming? I’ve served You faithfully; yet it seems like everybody else is the object of Your attention and affection.” Right There, It is Time To Cry Out Just Like the Lepers, “Jesus, Have Mercy On Me!” Away With Dignity And Decorum; Desperate People Pray Desperate Prayers, And God Responds!

Notice also, when Jesus was passing by these lepers did NOT shout, “Unclean,” as the law REQUIRED! No, They Broke Protocol! Listen: When You are In A Bad Situation, Sometimes You Have To Break Out In Order To Break-Through! You must learn to respond like the psalmist: “I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill” (Psalm 3:4 NKJV). People Of God, Do not Let Nobody Box You Into A Corner Pew And Shhh You Down! Cry Loud And Spare Not! Open Your Mouth And Get Jesus’ Attention! Desperate People Are A Determined People! And When You Have Nothing Else To Lose, You Go All The Way In! Scream Until You Lose Your Voice, Clap Your Hands Until They Turn Red! Dance Until You Collapse! Shout Until Mother Sitting Next To You Turns Off Her Hearing Aid! Run Around That Church Like Flo Jo! Whatever You Do, Get His Attention! Do not Become Fearful, Fainthearted, Faltering, Or Foolish! Simply Believe God’s Promise To You And Put Your Faith To Work!

My Suggestion: Instead of discussing the issue endlessly, Just Do What He’s Told You To Do! Real Faith In Action Needs No Explanation In Order To Act! Sometimes God Will Give You “A Word” And It Looks Like It is Not Even Working – But It Is – Yes, Even When It Does not Look Like It!  The Faith That God Responds To Does Not Require Understanding Of The Orders Given, Just Obedience In Carrying Them Out! And When You Do, You will Be Amazed At What He Does In The Meantime!

“And so it was that AS THEY WENT, they were cleansed” (vs. 14 NKJV). Note the words, “AS THEY WENT” The Bible says, “The steps of a [good] man is directed and established by the Lord…” (Psalm 37:23 AMP). Listen, When God Tells You Something, Step Out On It! The Word Has Already Declared That He’s Ordered, Directed, And Established Your Every Step! But Does That Mean You Have To Walk It Alone? Absolutely Not, The Bible Says, “And So It Was That As They Went, They Were Cleansed”. You Do Not Have To Walk This Faith Out By Yourself, However, When You Walk In Faith, It Is A One Way Street! Only Those Going In The Same Direction Can Go With You! All Opposing Traffic Has To Pick Another Street! When You Walk In Faith, You Arrive Safely To Your Destination, And Only With The Company Of Those Who Were Heading In The Same Direction! Therefore, Work Your Faith By Walking In Faith, But Watch Those Who You Allow To Walk With You! Like-Minded Faith Walkers Will Keep You On Track, But Doubters Will Trip You Up Every Time!

Lastly, try to imagine this: “And so it was that AS THEY WENT, they were cleansed” (vs. 14 NKJV). Imagine That While They Are Walking, Their Toes Are Growing Back! As They Move In Obedience To His Word, In Faith, A Stub Turns Back Into A Finger! Their Skin Is Renewing Before Their Very Eyes! God Is Putting Them Back Together Again, As They Walk Out The Word He Gave Them! That is Why You Cannot Stop Now! Keep Walking By Faith! Because As You Walk In Obedience To The Word He’s Given You, Your Marriage Is Repairing; Your Children Are Returning; Your Finances Are Replenishing; The Ruins Of Your Health Are Restoring! Cells, Valves, Arteries, Muscles, Tissue, Breathing, Heart Rate, Glucose, Are All Coming Back Into The Normal Range. Your Cholesterol And Blood Pressure Are Back At Optimal Levels. The Arthritis Is Easing Up; The Pain Is Subsiding; The Swelling Is Decreasing; The Bones Are Regaining New Strength; The Hurt Is Healing; The X-Rays Are Turning In Your Favor; The Diagnosis Is Re-diagnosing For The Better. The Medications Are Lowering. Your Senses Are Back To Functioning At Their Best. The Cane, Crutch, Wheelchair And Walker Are Already Prepared To Be Given To Someone Else Since You No Longer Have Need Of Them. You are Coming Off Access-A-Ride and Getting Back Behind the Wheel Of A Car Again! Oxygen Tanks Have To Be Picked Up For Good Because Your Lungs Found New Air! As You Walk By Faith In Obedience To The Word God Gave You, He’s Bringing Everything Out Of Order Back Into Order! As You Walk By Faith, He’s Restoring, Healing, Delivering, Saving, Replenishing, Repairing, Redeeming! Which is why you Cannot Get Stagnant In Fear And Die, Keep Your Faith Stride Moving Forward, Got Is Putting You Back Together Again As You Go!

“He Who Has Begun A Good Work In You Will Complete It!” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). God Begun This Work In You And He’s Going To Complete It! Rise Up In Faith And Declare, As Bad As It Was, As Depressed As I Was, As Broke As I Was, As Sick As I Was, As Unemployed As I Was, As Bad As My Marriage Was: “It’s All Coming Back Together!” The More You Walk By Faith, God Is Restoring, Resurrecting, Returning, Reviving, Regenerating, Reestablishing, And In The End You will Do The Rejoicing When All Of The Broken Pieces Are Finally Brought Back Together Again! And All It Takes Is Faith That Works! 

People Of God, Put Your Faith To Work, And Watch Your Faith Work For You! And all you must do is refuse to die in fear, and instead, live in faith!

Now, With All That Said, I Have a Few Questions For You: 

Is your faith still alive and well?

Is it still growing?

Are you still feeding it?

Are you still nurturing you?

Are you still walking in it?

Are you still working in it?

Are you still living in it?

Does Your Faith Still Have a Pulse?

Faith Works If you Work It!

 

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

When You Already Have Your Plans Ready, Until God Steps in And Interrupts Your Process, Progress and Plans With A BUT GOD Moment! How Do You Handle It? The Worse Thing You Can Do Is Ignore Following God's Guidance.

 1 Chronicles 28:2-3, “Then David the king rose to his feet and said, Hear me, my brethren and my people. I MYSELF INTENDED to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as a footstool for our God, and I prepared materials for the building. BUT GOD said to me: You shall not build a house for My Name [and Presence], because you have been a man of war and have shed blood” (AMP).

“…I MYSELF INTENDED…BUT GOD…”

Vincent’s passion for ministry led him to the Belgian coalfields where he preached to miners, tended the injured, fed the hungry and earned a place in the people’s hearts. His church was filled with those eager to learn about Jesus. But his superiors were not happy because Vincent wore cast-offs, lived in a shack, and gave his salary to the people. “You look worse than the people you came to teach,” they said. “Wouldn’t Jesus have done the same?” Vincent asked. His bosses disagreed and he was dismissed from the ministry. He was hurt and angry; his only desire had been to build a church that glorified God, so why hadn’t God let it happen? Then one day he watched an old miner struggling beneath a load of coal. Moved by the sight he began to sketch the bowed figure. And although he did not realize it at the time, he had discovered his Real calling. The young preacher who was rejected by his denomination eventually became an artist the world will long remember: Vincent van Gogh!

With that thought, how do you react to the “…BUT GOD…” interruptions in your life? Do you fuss and fume, or do you look for His hand in them? Understandably, Vincent was not happy at all that the one thing he desired to do; he could no longer do. Why? Because God had a different set of plans! And can you imagine what the world of art would be like without Vincent van Gogh? Can you imagine the void from his absence in artistry? There is a quote I have recently come across that states: “Sometimes, the Interruption is the Assignment.” But let us be honest, who do you know of that gets excited about interruptions? After all, its very definition states: “to stop the continuous progress of; to break the continuity of something.” Its Latin Origin ‘interrumpere’ literally means, ‘to break.’ And if it is two things we do not like, it is to be interrupted and to be broken! But oftentimes that’s when God does His best work in our lives. One, when we are interrupted, because we tend to be busy little beavers working on dam’s God never assigned us to build! And two, we also tend to be arrogant when we have it supposedly altogether! So, God interrupts and breaks us so He can get our hands on the right blueprints for building and so we can be made humble before He honors us! Saints, I encourage you to learn how to embrace both interruptions and brokenness, for in them lies God’s greatest plans, purpose, and direction!

Jeremiah 29:10-11, “This is God’s Word on the subject…I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (MSG)

Your plans will always work when they are rightly aligned with His Plans and Purpose!

Proverbs 19:21, “Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).” (AMP)

Truth is, all of us will experience “…BUT GOD…” moments in life. I wanted to marry that man/woman…BUT GOD! I wanted to go to that school…BUT GOD! I wanted to accept that job…BUT GOD! I wanted to purchase that house…BUT GOD! I wanted to start that business…BUT GOD! I wanted to have a baby…BUT GOD! I wanted to start a church…BUT GOD! I wanted to relocate…BUT GOD! I wanted to throw in the towel and call it quits…BUT GOD! So, how do you handle the “…BUT GOD…” interruptions in life?

Let us take a listen in and see if David has some advice for us: David said, “I…intended to build a…home for the ark…BUT GOD said…’ Your son Solomon…shall build My house” (1 Chronicles 28:2-6 NASB). Now, I cannot speak for you, but if I were David, I would have been a bit upset. Can I be truthful with you?! God, this is me, David, King David at that! I am Your friend! I am the Anointed One! I am the one You sought after and declared to all that I Have a Heart After You! How can You skip over me and give this assignment to someone ‘less qualified than’ me? And for Solomon? He is my son and all, and that is wonderful, but he is young and inexperienced, and You have never said about him the things You have said about me. Surely, I am more qualified than he, surely, I would make a better architect than he? Why am I, of all people receiving a “…BUT GOD…”?

However, when God nixed his plans, David did not respond as I may have, instead, he immediately followed his “…BUT GOD…” with a “…YET GOD…” and declared, “YET, the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel” (1 Chronicles 28:4 NASB)

You see, instead of complaining about what he DIDN’T get to do, David rejoiced in how God had ALREADY blessed him by promoting him from herding sheep to leading the Israelite nation! Amazing! But isn’t perspective and gratitude two things that can make all the difference?! It is not about how we see it; it is about looking at everything through God’s Perspective!

I wonder if we were asked would we be able to say we respond to our “…BUT GOD…” moments with a “…YET GOD…” declaration? Instead of murmuring and complaining, comparing, and competing, David celebrates what the Lord has already granted him. Going forward, will you mature to David’s level of leadership and trust God’s plan, even when it differs from the one you intended? You see, the word ‘intended’ means ‘planned.’ Therefore, it is not like David was sitting on his hands and just making wishes, goals, aims, and hopes. When he says, ‘he intended’, it means he already made plans. Listen to the text again: “…I MYSELF INTENDED to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as a footstool for our God, and I PREPARED MATERIALS FOR THE BUILDING. BUT GOD…” This was not a let us see what happens, this was a watch and see what happens. David was not passive or lazy or procrastinating, no, he intended for his plans to come to pass for he already started preparing! So, what do you do when you are not simply sharing a good idea moment, but your BUT GOD, steps in when you have calculated all the numbers, you have assembled the team, you have drawn up the blueprints, you already know what it is going to be named and the completion date is already scheduled in ink in your mind? When You Already Have Your Plans Ready, Until God Steps in And Interrupts Your Process, Progress and Plans with a BUT GOD Moment! How Do You Handle It?

James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.” (AMP)

Because the Bible does not lie: “There is a way which SEEMS right to a man and APPEARS straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12 AMP). Often many of us suffer because we chose what SEEMED and APPEARED right! But had we asked God for clarity, we would have SEEN it for what it really was, a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing! God alone can see clearly behind the mask, the makeup, and the materials! You simply cannot hide behind the disguise of someone who is the creator of Discernment! So why not ask Him first?!

When you sense “A Hold” in your spirit, it is more than likely God Himself trying to get your attention! Remember: He promised to, “…guide you along the BEST pathway for your life, advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8 NLT). Did you catch that? When God guides you, you will always be found traveling down the BEST pathway for your life! Not so-so, not alright, not good, but when God guides, you only go down the BEST road! Who would be foolish enough to go at it alone when this is the promise from God Himself? The Worse Thing You Can Do Is Ignore the Best Advice, Which Is Following God’s Guidance!

A century ago, F.B. Meyer wrote, “Are you in difficulty about your way? Go to God…get direction from the light of his smile or the cloud of his refusal…wait there silent and expectant, though all around you insist on immediate decision or action – the Will of God will be made clear; and you’ll have a new conception of God.” If only we would finally learn the benefit and blessing of going to God for direction, and sitting quietly and patiently until we receive it…

Which reminds us a lot of Proverbs 16:9, “You may make your plans, BUT GOD directs your actions” (GNT). Those “…BUT GOD…” moments are everywhere! That is why it is so important that you do not take a step in ANY direction without FIRST receiving God’s DIRECTIONS!

It is said when Columbus set out, he did not know where he was GOING, when he arrived, he did not know where he WAS, and when he returned, he did not know where he had BEEN! Truth is, from time to time we all need help knowing which direction to go, such as whether to relocate, take a certain job, or commit to a particular relationship. Which is why the Scripture says, “We should make plans – counting on God to direct us” (Proverbs 16:9 TLB).

Proverbs 3:5-12, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He is the one who will keep you on track. Do not assume that you know it all. Run to God…” (MSG) I would definitely, without a doubt, say that often we go wrong because we don’t First Seek God for the Right way to go!

And why is it so important that we go to God first for direction? Because, truth is, you never know what God will do, say or think because the Scripture holds true: “This plan of mine is not what you would work out; neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 TLB).

Which is why we should further follow the advice found in the book of Jeremiah: “ASK ME and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here” (Jeremiah 33:3 TLB). And what is the benefit of ASKING? The Bible says, “ASK, AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN WHAT YOU ASK FOR. Seek, and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7 AMP)

If you would simply ASK GOD, you may better understand the BUT GOD and therefore render to Him a YET GOD trust that has no room for fear, doubt, panic, worry, fret, unbelief, or hurry!

Ask God so He can direct you! And how does He direct us? In a variety of ways, but here is 3 in a nutshell:

1…HIS WORD: “Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. LET THE WORD OF CHRIST—THE MESSAGE—HAVE THE RUN OF THE HOUSE. GIVE IT PLENTY OF ROOM IN YOUR LIVES. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” (Colossians 3:15-17 MSG). One author writes: “The Bible is to God what a surgical glove is to a surgeon. He reaches through it to touch deep within you.” But that requires reading it, personalizing it, and acting on it. And often the reason we stay in the stuff we are in so long is because we do not turn to the Word of God, which is the instrument, He uses to get us out! “He sends forth His Word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction” (Psalm 107:20 AMP). We could get out of a world of trouble, if only we would get into the Word of God!

2…PRAYER AND LISTENING FOR HIS VOICE: Jesus said, “My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they follow Me.” (John 10:27 CEB). And Isaiah adds, “And if you leave God’s paths and go astray, you will hear a voice behind you say, “No, this is the way; walk here.” (TLB). Can you imagine being so loved by God that He watches everywhere you go, and even when you go wrong, His voice is right there telling you how to get right back on track? Psalm 119:9-16, “How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of Your Word; I am single-minded in pursuit of You; do not let me miss the road signs You have posted. I have banked Your promises in the vault of my heart, so I will not sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in Your ways of wise living. I will transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from Your mouth; I delight far more in what You tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from You. I attentively watch how You have done it. I relish everything You’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it.” (MSG). If you want to stay on Track, carefully Follow the Directions of the Map of God’s Word! I would even dare say that we often travel down the wrong path so long, not because God is not speaking and giving us direction, but because we are simply not listening! And what is the best way to listen for His voice, PRAYER! “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG).

3…WISE COUNSEL: “Without good direction, people lose their way; the wiser counsel you follow, the better your chances” (Proverbs 11:14 MSG); “Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished” (Proverbs 15:22 AMP). Believe it or not, but others have sat where you are currently seated: “Remember your leaders who taught you the Word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives and follow the example of their faith” (Hebrews 13:7 NLT). In other words, is your business floundering? Then talk to a successful businessperson. Are you experiencing a mid-life crisis? Before doing something, you will regret, ask for help. Is your marriage failing? Then talk to a couple who have sat where you are sitting, but they are standing strong now. Are your kids straying? Then talk to someone who knows what it feels like to see your kids go astray, and then return to the path in which they were trained upon. Are your finances a mess? Then talk to someone who has managed to become financially secure and debt free. Are you insecure? Then talk to someone who can teach you about self-confidence. Believe it or not, but you are not the first one, the only one, or the last one! God has done it before, and He will do it again. But you will never know that if you do not talk to Wise Counselors! “Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice” (Proverbs 12:15 MSG).

Remember: Life comes with a lot of “…BUT GOD…” moments, but when you grow in God, increase your prayer life, maintain your faith, refresh your hope, diligently study the Word of God, obey the voice of God, seek God for direction, trust and follow the plan, purpose and Will of God and surround yourself with wise counselors, you’ll become just like David, and find a “…YET GOD…” and be greatly encouraged even through your “…BUT GOD…” moments!

“Write Your Plans in Pencil But Give God The Eraser. (J.P. O.)

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org