2nd July 2021, ~ 2:06am
You know something I’ve realised? No, you don’t, that’s why I’m going to tell you now 😁 I was about to say “people pray for…” but no, that will be a wrong way to start therefore, I’ll speak solely for myself. There are sometimes when I literally pray day and night for God to give me revelation about something. Is this it? Shall I go left? Shall I go right? Is this the cute guy who’s my supposed prince? Should I buy these sunglasses? Is this the dream job? Have I gotten everything from my current role? Should I quit now? Okay, I’ll stop. I’m afraid I’m now turning the first paragraph into an epistle with solely open-ended questions you probably don’t understand. Give me a moment, I’m going somewhere.
As my inquisitive, strategic-minded, wannabe-overachiever-in-everything self, I’m always looking for God to “OK” a theory I’ve reached in my head (which I believe is right of course). Do you know why? Because once God says “yes” I see it as jackpot! I must make sure I hold on to it (and not lose it) because it must be good, it must be beautiful, it will make me better etc.
Let’s make this more specific – I see a role and I believe that its where God is leading me to. I start praying and decide to seek guidance from God – is this your desire for me? God responds, “Yes my love, that’s where you’re going to be.” In fact, let’s make it sweeter. He goes a step further to tell my “spiritual board of directors” i.e. the people I reach out to for counsel, that His desire is for me to go to this place. So now that I know God ain’t joking, I receive in my heart and I become determined to make sure I get this role and don’t miss this place or opportunity. I will cut my story short for a moment.
Let’s take it back to primary school days – first question – have you spotted the problem in the paragraph above? Btw, if you’re looking for a problem in God’s Word you’re wrong o!!! LOL! Spot the problem in MY actions.
***Hopes reader goes back and reads before jumping to see***
I hope you honestly went back but anyway, I’ll tell you. First and foremost, I failed to recognise that me and God sometimes communicate in different TENSES. Do you remember your class teacher reciting past, present, and future tenses in English class? I asked God for his direction on something in the present. There is a 99.9% chance that when He responded to me, He gave me a revelation of the FUTURE and not the present. Now my actions after receiving his Word are that of “determination” to make sure I don’t ruin the gift.
Can you spot problem number 2?
Again, ***Hopes reader goes back and reads before jumping to see***
I’m trying to do it in my strength. So because He reveals how beautiful the end will be, I’m attempting to do anything and everything to ensure the end happens. But you know something? I think that’s wrong and quite frankly, exhausting. What God says will SURELY come to pass. It says so here:
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11
Simply put – no word comes forth from the mouth of the LORD and returns back to Him void. God doesn’t just “chat”. He doesn’t just talk for talking sake. He talks to reveal his purposes, his plans, his will and his ways. Now, I said “his”before all those things. They are HIS. I have, and will continue to have zero business trying to shoulder God’s “burdens” from the plans he wants to do. There’s no need to have an “I have to help God with the promise” mentality.
Now hear me out! God works THROUGH us. We do not help him do anything. I know that sounds confusing so I’ll use an example. God wanted to part the Red Sea. God worked THROUGH Moses to part the Red Sea. Moses did not HELP GOD part the Red Sea – does that make sense? I hope it does. Let’s take another example – Tabitha, she was raised from the dead. God wanted to raise Tabitha from the dead, however, Peter DID NOT HELP GOD raise Tabitha. God did it THROUGH Peter. I really hope it makes sense. I’ve seen another bible study that says “God invites us to participate in his works with Him” that’s another way – participants not helpers. We participate by allowing him to do his divine work through us and by this, we should know we aren’t helping.
Why am I hammering on so much on “helping”? Well, simply because when you assume the role of helper, or executive PA, or assistant Holy Spirit, you instinctively believe that your actions may influence the outcome of the event.
Have you spotted problem number 3? That instinct is very very very dan-ge-rous.
However please relax. If you’re panicking, worry not because all I’ve described above was me in a nutshell till 2:16am 😉 and as I write (now it’s 2:45am) God is pouring out revelation through this article to bring me healing – to bring you revelation and healing 🙏🏾
This is important so please if you don’t remember anything from this, don’t forget this part: your actions cannot influence the outcome of God’s word, his will, his ways and his plans. This means instead of burning yourself out and trying to play superwoman or be the sacrificial lamb that He didn’t ask you to be, BREATHE. When God speaks I’m going to start reciting this in my subconscious:
“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
Habakkuk 2:3
I think that is extremely powerful. I need to remember that the end is beautiful but there is a PROCESS to seeing that end come to pass. I believe instead of getting stuck on trying to help God, trying to prevent the good thing he’s promised from slipping away, fretting and just going OTT, what we can do is breathe and lock the door.
God told me that – lock the door. You see, after He revealed to me that my actions cannot change his plans, I started flying down memory lane – yes not driving – and reliving all my actions. Obviously when one does this, they start feeling foolish. I started judging myself and bullying myself. Why would you behave in that manner? I start re-interpreting conversations. I play back things over and over.
And he just said: LOCK. THE. DOOR.
So, I’m going to say that to you too – Lock the door. Don’t let the devil convince you to toil to get the promise God has for your life. You will not have to toil for what God has promised. Is there a process – yes. Is it all rosy – definitely not. But has the devil convinced you that if you try hard enough it will come faster, it won’t slip out of your hand, you’ll have it sooner? If yes, you ought to lock that door in your mind fast. LOCK. THE. DOOR.
Don’t allow thoughts like that take hold of your mind! And if you are currently in a position where you’re almost regretting past actions (especially when your intentions behind those actions were good) don’t just lock the door, seal it with metal bars and bin the key 😁 Remember this verse:
“I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”
Malachi 3:6
What God has said, He has said. What he says ALWAYS comes to pass – no need to fret, worry or somersault. Lock the door on your worrying, on overanalyses, on regret, on beating yourself down, on trying to toil to get something that’s already yours! LOCK THE DOOR. Just trust the process. Take it a day at a time and seek his direction as you navigate it all.
I wish you guys knew how deep and personal this story is to me. Maybe one day God will allow me share the full story. But for now, this is it.
He loves us and he won’t disappoint us. He never does.
Lots of love,
T
