Praisetimes International

FINDING HOPE IN THE 'HOPELESS SITUATION'

Text:
Heb.6:15NLT.
Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

The pot gradually and steadily runs out of oil even as the bank account is already in the red. The clock ticks dutifully, drawing closer the children's school resumption after the the vacation which you wished may never come to an end. The more you wish the hand of the clock could be stayed, the more it seems to be moving at a jet speed, still drawing to your attention your responsibilities as a faithful father and a virtuous woman. But alas! God seems not to be responding in parallel to your own speed. Wait! Be Patient, Be Still, seems to be what you keep hearing.

Oftentimes, God keeps us waiting, even in the face of the realities of famine, face to face with a ravaging terror. Then, we ask, 'Is the time not yet ripe for the heaven to release the dew? Have we not wondered enough to get to our destination point?

The Psalmist found himself in the maze of this paradigm and when tabling his matter to God, he asked, 'Lord, how long wilt thou look on?— Psalm 35:17. But then, when he pulled himself together, he remembered that, 'the way of man is, really, not in himself... Jeremiah 10:23 and counseled his own soul to 'Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.'

His waiting was never in vain; for the promises of God in Christ Jesus are 'Yea and Amen.' In a process of time, to his astonishment and amazement, he exclaimed, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." Beyond the expected Dew, there was a Great Shower.

The entire Jews, at a time, also expressed such extravagant joy, 'When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad-- Psalm 126:1-3 KJV.

Yes, such change is always greeted with great excitement, it erases all past trauma, it dries away tears as it puts songs in the mouth and melodies in the heart, but then, are we ready to wait? Can we pay the prize of waiting, can we bear the ridicule, face the humiliation, the despise? Can we bear the cost of being deserted and be ready to contend with the few friends who will, rather be judgmental than proffering solutions as in the case of Job? Will you be ready to tolerate your wife who will rather advertise your plight than being there for you at such a time?

The scripture affirms that, '...no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."—Heb. 12:11. KJV.

God never keeps us waiting without hope, without His presence and without sustaining us as He stands by His Word that He 'is faithful, and will not suffer us to be tempted above what we will be able to bear-1 Cor.10:13 KJV The psalmist from his own personal experience counsels, 'Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

HE MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME!

Remain Blessed!
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JOY TO THE WORLD

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord— Luke 2:9-11 KJV

Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, left his royal throne and came because he had you in mind. He took the form of man(Infinite in Finite) because he cared so much for me and was bothered about my latter end.

As we, therefore, celebrate this rare gift (Jn. 3:16) let's celebrate not as onlookers that are being entertained in a game of fun, but as beneficiaries who are celebrating victory over captivity, victory over condemnation, victory over separation and, of course, victory over sin and death.

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains....

CHEER UP, THE SAVIOUR IS HERE! GLADDENS MY HEART YOU ARE PART OF THIS CELEBRATION.

Christ in You, the Hope of Glory.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

—William Emechebe

www.emechebe.org