STRUGGLING WITH DIFFICULTIES?

Those of you who know me well know I have been

struggling with many difficulties over the past several years and especially in recent months as those difficulties insist on playing out in my life. I have been deeply disappointed by people I love, (how many times do I need the lesson that when I put my faith in man instead of God, I will always be disappointed?). My forty years  experience as a real estate broker that taught me I could always generate income when I need it has proven not to be true (how many times do I have to learn not to rely on myself for my provision?). And the absolute conviction that everything will work out has faded into hoping it will (how long will it take me to learn that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen?). You can see, I have been robbed of my joy recently by the necessity of living life. I am face-to-face with myself . . .  and I find I am lacking. So, I went into my Bible time this morning with my grievances against God. If He would give me the victory over my circumstances, I’d stop relying on myself. 

Isn’t that just like a human, always seeking God’s hands and never His face? Fix it, fix me, fix this, fix that, gimme, gimme, gimme. Well, praise Him that, so far at least, I have not tried His patience to the extent that He throws up His hands and walks away. Instead, He was waiting for me in the room where I read my Bible and when I sat down and opened it He turned the pages to 1 John 5:15. And He spoke directly to me, “Nikki, since you positively know that I listen to you in whatever you ask, you also know with settled and absolute knowledge that you  have granted to you as your present possessions the requests you made of Me.”

“What?” I am telling you the truth. That is what He said. You can read it for yourself in 1 John. I understand that to mean that all of my list of needs is already met. I had to sit there for awhile to really grasp it. This is His way with me. First he shows me His truth (I just read it in that verse). We all know His truth. Hundreds of them are stated in the Bible. But the problem is that they are not our truth. It isn’t until a moment like this, when God allows circumstances to force me to come face-to-face with my reliance on myself (which always leads to difficulties) that I am willing to hear Him. And when I do, when I really hear Him, it becomes my truth. It is integrated into my being and I can walk in it. Am I to understand from what He said that He has already taken care of everything in my life that is pressing me now? The mending of my heart, my provision, and the assurance that everything will work out. All I have to do is receive it! 

Yes, He says that He has granted to me, as my present possession, the requests I have made. I know my requests are in His will ( hardly a minor detail when we want Him to move in our lives) because His Word says that He wants me to trust Him for my joy, my provision, and my hope for the future. So, now He is saying He has taken care of all that. I just need to keep my eyes on Him, completely, totally on Him, and receive all He has already done for me. He did it all on the cross for me. He personally bore our sins in His (own) body on the tree (as on an altar and offered Himself on it), that I might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds I have been healed.

Have been healed. Back then is when He did it all for me so I could walk in that truth today. Talk about provision! If I will faith into that, it will become my truth. He has taught me that over and over. I invite you to come with me on my journey and faith into that truth today and again tomorrow and again and again until we meet Him face-to-face and can fall at His feet and thank Him for all He has done for us.