Purpose in Pain

November 8, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Inspirational Articles, Testimonies, The Faith Walk, Words of Encouragement 

When my family and I moved to Georgia, we literally left on the command of God.  However, just because God commands you to do something doesn’t mean the road ahead of you will be cleared of obstacles.

The past four months have truly tested our faith.  Its one thing to say, “I’ll trust you Lord no matter the circumstance”, but my question to you is will you have that same attitude when it comes time to walk that circumstance out?

I’ve come to encourage someone with my testimony today.  Here’s my story:

July 6th is when my family and I arrived to Georgia.  Thanks to God, four days prior to leaving, the Lord opened a home for us to stay in temporarily.  About a week after arriving to GA. I begin seeking employment within customer service (specifically in call centers) with companies such as AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon.

Hearing nothing from these companies, I unwilling begin seeking employment in an industry I said I never wanted to return to, fast food restaurants.  I applied to Chik-Fi-La, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s and the likes still unable to get my foot in the door!

I begin getting discouraged.  I would travel each day to nearby cities by FOOT going from store to store looking for employment for about 7+ hours a day only to hear “we’re not hiring” OR “we’ll contact you if your qualifications match our needs”

I remember times where I’ll come “home” frustrated and upset.  Application after application, phone call after phone call I felt as though I was getting nowhere.  Upset with God and life I was ready to give up!

In the middle of all this, my family and I moved around 2 times before we finally checked ourselves into a hotel.  Mind you, we only had enough money to pay for one weeks rent; LITERALLY!  This only added stress to the need of finding employment and getting it quickly.

One day, I said to my mother, “you would think because we were obedient to God’s command, He would make things easier for us!”  Being the awesome mother she is, she was able to encourage herself and I in the Lord!

On many occasions, I was ready to drop my bags and give up on God.  I didn’t want to pray, read the bible nor tithe and give offerings.  However, what kept me were the very things I was tempted to give up on and thanks be to God, I pressed through those temptations.

I begin to pray and read the Word of God more because (1) I learned that faith ONLY comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God and (2) I was expecting God to produce a miracle in my life.  In addition, if I was expecting God to bless my family and I financially, I knew tithing was a must and NOT an option.  So I begin tithing and offering the little I did have unto the Lord.  I was holding on to God’s promises as it is written in Malachi 3:10, “…prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].”

Although I expected a financial breakthrough from God, my family and I realized we weren’t obeying the Lord completely.  Months ago, God gave us a business to work on, BV Online Media.  However, we stopped working on it because we allowed our circumstances (lack of funds) to take priority over what God told us to do.

After realizing we had no excuse not to work on BV Online Media, as we witnessed God sustain us week after week, we decided to obey God and work on our business while I continued looking for employment.

Once we begin believing God instead of our circumstances, that’s when things begin to change.  September 30th, I received a phone call from HHGregg, an appliance and electronic store, asking that I come in for an interview that following Monday (October 4th) at 1:00PM.  That Monday during Morning Prayer, I begin thanking God for the interview.

“God, I thank you for this opportunity of employment.  Father, I ask for your favor and blessing.  I claim that this job in mine in Jesus name!”.  As I was praying, the Holy Spirit brought back to my remembrance, “…whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).

That’s when my prayer changed, “God you said in Your word that if I ask it in Jesus name, I shall receive it.  God I thank you for this interview I have today, but God I ask for your favor with FedEx (a job I interviewed for weeks prior).  I ask for employment with FedEx in Jesus name.  With this job (FedEx), I’ll be able to take my family “outta” here (hotel).”

After prayer, I begin preparing for my 1PM interview with HHGregg.  During preparation, my mother informed me that I missed a phone call.  Checking my voicemail, l rejoiced at what I heard.  It was FedEX informing me that I got the position and to expect an offer letter.

I rejoiced in the Lord because after being tried, tested and realizing that I am not to forfeit one of many visions, BV Online media, God answered my prayer!  I asked for a selection of jobs that I would be able to choose from and within a period of 7 days, a total of 3 companies showed interest in working with me: HHGregg (retail), FedEx (call center) and CarMax (call center).

From this experience I have learned that just because God says something or gives an instruction doesn’t mean the red carpet is going to roll out for you and you’ll be smooth sailing.  At times, there will be obstacles that you’ll have to face.  But those obstacles are there to strengthen and build you up in the Lord, not to break you down.

My blessing didn’t come until I made a decision to trust God, be obedient and realize that this job is a tool to help my family and I along the way as we press toward destiny and purpose.

Although I didn’t appreciate the process I had to endure at the time, I appreciate it now because through it there was a breaking and bolding process.

Be encouraged and know that ALL THINGS (even the bad) will work out for your GOOD!  There is purpose in your pain!  I encourage you to stand firm on your faith! Don’t give up on God and trust God at His word.

God bless you in Jesus name, Amen!

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Tags: employment

Your Suffering is Another’s Comfort

December 4, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Words of Encouragement 

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As Christians, though we would like to think we’re immune to sufferings, the truth of the matter is that we’re not.  Just as Jesus suffered – in the form of persecution, beatings, trails and etc as followers and believers, we will encounter trails, tribulations (trouble, affliction) and sufferings too.  However, “don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world”  ( 1 Peter 4:12, 13).

Although suffering is something no person desires to go through, this is where a lot of purging, growing, molding and the cutting away of ungodly habits is taken place.  It’s at times used for testing and preparation for what’s to come.  This is where we learn to NOT to rely on ourselves, but on the Lord.  Though we don’t like to think about it, the Bible gives us many positive outcomes of one’s suffering:

  1. “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered” – Hebrews 5:8.
  2. “I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” -2 Corinthians 12:10.
  3. “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees” – Psalm 119:71.
  4. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” – James 1:2-4.

Many times when we suffer, one of the first things we do is ask the Lord, “why am I going through this; Did I do something wrong; etc” But many times we give little to no thought to the lesson(s) God may want us to learn through our suffering.  Oftentimes, God will allow us to go through something not because we done something wrong, but because we’re going to have to minster and witness to someone; there’s people waiting to hear our testimony – so that others my see the glory of the Lord.

An example of this would be – John 9:2, 3: [where one of Jesus disciples asked Him:] “Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” [Jesus Replied:] “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him”.  – Then Jesus healed the blind man and he was able to see.

Your sufferings (whether physically, emotionally, mentally, financially or spiritually) are not solely for you.  At times your suffering is for another’s comfort and encouragement – to serve as a testimony in someone else’s life.

According to 2 Corinthians 1:3, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort (encourage) others”.  2 Cor. 1:6 tells us when God comforts us, it is so we, in return, can be an encouragement to someone else – so that they may have strength to endure the same thing we suffered and went through.

As Christians we go through things and have to face obstacles we have no clue how to confront-whether that be an illness, hard ships on the job, finances, your marriage, relationships with people and etc.  Though the bible on no account states that we’ll never suffer, I want to encourage you. Know that through your suffering comes comfort.  God will comfort you during your time of trouble; and not only you, but He will use you to comfort (encourage) others too.

Today, let’s make a commitment to ask the Lord for strength, joy and peace during times of hardship, pain and suffering.  A commitment to ask the Lord what is it He wants us to learn during a period of growing, cutting, purging and molding.  Jesus already tells you that He’ll never leave you nor forsake you.  He already told you that He’ll comfort you during your time of trouble.  Whether you realize it or not, everything we go through on this earth (hurt, pain, suffering, trails, tribulations and etc) Jesus already has provisions with your name on it.  Remember that during your time of suffering, the lesson you’ll learn may not always be solely for you, but for someone else too. Be confident that as you share your suffering (testimony) with someone else, you also share God’s comfort (2 Cor. 1:7).  Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5). May God give you strength, peace and joy in Jesus name; amen.

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Tags: comfort, suffer, suffering

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