Frustration To Faith
People are in a crisis in their life that almost seems to stop them right in their tracks...frozen by fear, or pain, or disappointments. They pray, they fast, do everything they know to do and still things didn't happen.
Almost as if God has left them, or forgotten them or is not listening to them....
Read Exodus 5:22-23 - Moses frustrated with God
Moses kept going to Pharoah over and over again
He did everything He told him to do...All in His name and evil was done even more to them. God had not delivered them. Pharoahs heart was hardened...God did answer but it wasn't in Moses time, or the peoples.
Just as today....we hear from God...follow His voice...and things get worse
Some people say their life is so much worse since they began living for God.
1 Kings19:1-7 Elijah was frustrated and despondent
He was doing the work of God...killed all the prophets of Baal andJezebel was angry and sent a message to Elijah saying the same wouldbe done to him...He fled for his life. Fear – anxiety -depression set in
God sent an Angel – to help him and fed him..spoke to him and set him on his feet with a direction to go......God answered...He never left him.
In the church there is great revival going on, but there is also those that are locked up...with frustrations, fears, situations of life, and they cannot see past the darkness.
Read Luke11:5-10 Ask and it shall be given you
Question: If this is what the word says...Why isn't it happening?
Answer: Keep on knocking..believing on Him and His Word..even if you knuckles get bloody
Matthew 21:22 – And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive
Jn 14:14 - If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it
Mark 11:24 –What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
** Your dreams may be dead ….you may be going through the worst timeof your life...desperate for a miracle....HANG ON! BELIEVE!!
HE does all things well – even when it seems like a disaster!
God has His own plan and His own time clock for your circumstances.
He may be allowing you to go through your trial to lean on Him and not your ownself
He may be pruning you to build a godly character in you
He may be building your faith and strength in Him
He may be molding and shaping you so you can have compassion for the work He is preparing you for.
He may be molding you in this trial because He will be using you in specific ways down the road for the anointing you will need in order to fulfill His calling in your life.
What ever the reason for your trial...TRUST HIM...no matter how it looks!
Read : John 11:1-17 Mary and Martha
Lazarus - in the grave already 4 days (Martha's frustration)vs 20-26
Raised him up - Mary's frustration – People thought He has power to
heal, but not ALL power
**Never put a question mark where God has put a period!
If God makes a promise He will keep it, even if it seems like He did not ,or that it is too late!
When you have lost a love one or go through any crisis whether short term or along term crisis ..your mind can sometimes be filled with all the“Why's? And Why Not's” Nothing makes sense.
The pain is real...the trial will not go away..Desperation hangs on like a leech...and the days become a blur....Can anyone relate to this?
IICorinthians 4:8 – Paul writes”Perplexed but not in dispair”
Dispair: Hopelessness, dejection, and dispondency
This is something you might feel when you give up
nothing is worth giving up on Jesus!
Facts:
1. God must remain the cornerstone of all your trials...of your heart
2. He will bring you out of your trials if you will have faith in Him
3. God never makes a mistake (No matter how the situation frustrates you!)
4. He never leaves you alone – (He cares about all your going through..don't get
angryand walk away)
5. He will see you through the blackest midnight of your life and causeyour
frustrationto grow into faith
6. He will cause light to shine so that you can begin to see more clearly in the
dark
TRUE STORY: Pastor and his group went to the Swiss Alps to visit a glacier grotto that was reached by a tunnel bored through solid ice.
The went in deeper, and deeper, into depth away from the outside light. The light become dimmer and dimmer and when they reached the narrow chamber at the end of the passage it was pitch black.
Their guide said wait 5 minutes and you shall see light clearly
they waited and just as he told them-their eyes got accustomed to the new surroundings- the atmosphere lightened and the roof and walls glimmered into pure translucent green and a clear soft light. And they were able to see each other.
In your darkest of times...be patient..and you will be able to see through your darkness..have patience. His light will guide you through! Trust Him Wait on God!
Isaiah40:31 They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..they shall mount up with wings as eagles..they shall run and not be weary..and they shall walk and not faint.
Important: When we stop striving and simply wait on God then the light comes in so you can see. Peace can come in the midst of a storm...when you trust in Him.
I believe it is a lesson that God teaches...to make us wait..so we can see in the dark
It is during the dark times with all the ups and downs that causes doubt and fear to come if our faith isn't anchored in God.
We must believe in the promises of God no matter what the circumstances.
Your situation in life may seem pitch black..your hands may be tied...and you have no answers...IT IS NO TIME TO SIT DOWN AND DIE!
Job 23:10 “But He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”
God cares when you are in the blinding storm, but He knows that faith grows in the tempest.
Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”
Isaiah30:21 “This is the way, walk in it
God will not lead you astray..but will lead you in the way you should go!
Isaiah 43:2
Isaiah 45:2-3 Not only will He go with you- but He will go before you
**Diamonds are found in dark places deep in the walls of the earth –Pearls are found in the deep sea – many precious things are found in the dark out of the way places.
**God leads us through the dark so we might find the treasure that is hidden in us
Remember...there is a purpose for your darkness...it is through the trial that we aremolded and changed...we become refined!
What is important to learn:
*To relax in God...to wait
*Pray fervently – The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much! James 5:16
*Trust and believe
*Rest in His promises
*The higher purpose of a trial is to teach us to learn to have faith and cause us to look to God
*God is omnipotent
*He has ALL POWER in Heaven and earth and has promised to take care of us
*His desire is that we would grow into mighty men and women of God
God is shaping and molding each of us....into something wonderful...beautiful...that will give Him glory as HE freely moves through each of our lives....
And He is still working on me!!!
