Preparation is the key!
You are Loved!
But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. Genesis 37:4
Hate is a negative emotion set to counter the love motion in one’s life. It is a passionate contempt for someone. It is disruptive and destructive. Joseph was loved by his father but his brothers hated him.
Just as Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colours to affirm this love, God has given you a robe of righteousness. The enemy has no new tricks, because you are loved by the Father, he dislikes you intensely.
Satan is set to attack whatever source of love in your life: be it God, your spouse, children, friends or even loved ones. He unleashes antipathy to substitute feelings of empathy or sympathy. He seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Remember Jesus said “I and my father are one”. John 10:30. He further said:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. John 15:18
You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:2
Oh that you will stand firm to the end!
Joseph was hated to the point no kind words were spoken to him. No soothing words. No polite gestures. No friendly hugs. No playful jokes. No fun games. Peace eluded him. He was stripped of his glory and beaten so much so he lost his joy. He was thrown into a pit and later sold to slavery. His life was gradually ebbing away. They stole his identity, killed his liberty and destroyed his credibility.
You may be fighting for your peace as you read this piece and the only reason is, you are loved. I don’t know where you are right now. You might just be at the stage where folks are being impolite, unfriendly, and unruly towards you or perhaps you’ve been stripped, beaten and thrown in a pit, the deep – into obscurity; you may have even been sold… betrayed..denied. I can hear the sobs, pants and quivers. Jesus hears and he cares.
Here’s one reason you should endure. 22 years later, due to a famine Joseph’s brothers arrived in Egypt where he was. God will orchestrate events to connect you with your enemies. Aren’t you glad to know they will show up in your future except the tables will be turned? Joseph said:
As far as you’re concerned, you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20
Friend, your present pain is working out future pleasures for you! No matter what you are going through, be rest assured God is in it and he’s tuning, tightening and turning things for your favour.
Monumental breakthroughs will be accomplished in and through your life. It will save not just a few but many. You will become a household name. A formidable brand. A force to be reckoned with.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28
It’s all worked out friend. You are loved!
Glory!
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11:4
Lazarus was a good friend of Jesus yet he fell ill and died so God would take the glory. God’s ways are past finding out!
Eli was the high priest of Shiloh. He spoke a word over a barren woman called Hannah: “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” This word triggered a ministry that led to the
conception of Samuel. One day, Eli and his sons died and the ark of the Lord was captured in war; when his daughter-in-law who was about to give birth heard the news, she named her newborn baby boy ‘Ichabod’ following the events.
Israel was no longer a heavy weight. She had been defeated. She lost her champion and the championship – the greatest treasure. Gone was the Chabod – the glory. The symbol of God’s essence and presence. Without this, they could not compete in the next tournament or upcoming season. After all, how would they win?
The whistle blew, trumpets sounded, children rip their clothes and put on ashes. Across the streets of Israel, mothers were wailing as the men beat their chests lamenting: the glory has departed. Who would imagine? Where’s our glory? Perhaps you are in a similar situation this minute.
I have been pondering on ‘Chabod’ and ‘Ichabod’ for the past few hours and here’s the word: In the beginning there was glory and in the end, there’ll be glory – no matter what happens in between.
Whatever’s been seemingly lost in your life will be retrieved, rebuilt, repaired, renewed, restored, reinforced, revived, and refined.
Question: Are you ready for the NEW glory?
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:9
Shout Glory!
There might be chaos right now as a result of the things no longer in your possession or control; those things you are unable to find or recover – LOST. Faith, hope, ambition, child, husband, house, job, contract, ministry, opportunities, or whatever! Here’s good news, in this same place God bestows peace. Peace in the Hebrew is SHALOM meaning completeness, prosperity, and welfare. In essence, nothing missing and nothing broken.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27.
Receive PEACE!
Lazarus was raised back to life, the ark of the Lord returned to Jerusalem, and the desolate temple was rebuilt. You’ll get your stuff back!
Thereafter…
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”. So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered. Genesis 16:13-14
Do you feel lonely and deserted? That no one cares about you or what you are going through? Friend, you are not alone. God cares and is near, here, everywhere, and right there with you. He has your best interest at heart and will come through just for you.
When Hagar put away her child – promise, future, hope, destiny, and dream in fear that he would die of thirst, God came to her rescue. Interestingly, he did nothing but open her
eyes. Could it just be that’s all you need right now?
Insight, illumination, revelation is invaluable. Once Hagar saw, her problems were solved. God did not bring the well to her, she got to the well and did what was necessary.
I have noticed fear sets in when we lose sight of God’s magnificence and grace. Do you see a God who abandons? Who will bring you halfway and disappear? Who would promise health and wealth and let you wallow in pain and lack? Noooooooo! God is too good. He will not give you more than you can bear. May he open your eyes to see the purpose and promise in your problem?
The reason you are going through those challenges is for your ‘thereafter’. It won’t always be like this. There is coming a new season after this. Do you see?
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17
There’s a glory that is yet to be revealed in you that far outweighs your present circumstances. I pray today you have a ‘thereafter’ encounter. An experience that will give you a fresh revelation into the person and power of God. God will speak to you and open your eyes to the opportunities and possibilities around you.
Hereafter, you’ll call God by a new ‘another’ name. You are the God who [fill in the blanks]. You’ll know him more intimately and personally. Your testimony [your well] will not be blocked or stubbed out. It will remain for all to see and be encouraged.
The precise account and place will be preserved – between A and B [the scene] named C [your experience/ breakthrough] meaning D [the significance of your encounter/breakthrough].
Thereafter. Fresh vision. Another name. I am excited about your breakthrough and testimony. Please feel free to share with me.