Category Archives: Faith

Still Waiting

Posted on by
Reply

Have you prayed over and repeatedly for something and still have yet to see it come to past?

Are you tired of praying about that situation, that problem…that desire…that longing?

Are you ready to throw in the towel?

Perhaps one of our issues is we are too focused on what WE want. We are humans and often, it’s all about us and what we desire. But what about what God wants?

My friend, who is a priest, once told me that God is more interested in who we become during the journey as opposed to just getting us to the destination.

As I think about this, it reminds me of a graduation. It’s such a big deal. Lots of bells and whistles. It’s an exciting day…but it’s ONE day. It’s that one day which culminates years of schooling in some instances. And trust me, I love graduations! They are worth celebrating. However, it’s the challenges we overcome, the victories, the failures, the late nights, early mornings, the tears, the difficult professors, perhaps the sitting out a semester for whatever reason…the journey of mountaintop and valley experiences, which all make the tassel worth the hassle. It’s all we have been through to get to that cap and gown, cross the stage, family-cheering moment.

So as you wait on what you have so earnestly prayed for, begin to take your focus off the destination and begin contemplating what God is doing in you during the journey. Is He trying to get you to be more patient? Is He desiring to strengthen your faith in Him? Is He saying, ‘You’re not ready. You want this more than you want me’? Is He saying, ‘My grace is sufficient’?

The reality is waiting can be hard (I know). Waiting can be lonely (I know). Waiting can be frustrating, particularly when we’ve been waiting long AND we see others – including those who do not serve the Lord – receiving some of the same requests we have been praying for (I know that too!). It might be weeks, months, years of prayer for healing, deliverance from low self esteem, a house, that new job, the husband, the baby, the salvation of your son, that scholarship, restoration of your marriage, that financial breakthrough etc. If God were to give us everything we want – and immediately at that – we would have no need to trust in Him. We would see Him as a magician.

So during these early morning hours, as I think about what I am waiting for, I encourage you – while I am encouraging myself in the Lord – to fix your eyes upon Jesus. Do not desire anything or anyone more than Him. Do not compare yourself to others. What God has for you…for me, we will get. Wait patiently. Wait on His timing. Wait faithfully. Worship while you wait. Get busy doing the work of the Lord, while you wait. Don’t waste your wait. Grow through it.


Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. ~ Psalm 27:14

Growing in Christ,

Hadassah

COVID-19: God is STILL in Control!

Posted on by
Reply

coronavirus+mgn10
In my lifetime, I cannot think of any other thing which has caught the world’s attention like COVID-19 (coronavirus). This virus almost has a personality of its own. It slithers its way into airports and palaces, hopping onto buses and trains, waits in line at the mom and pop store on the corner, flys to every continent – except Antarctica – and makes its way into homes, from celebrities to the common man.

It seems to have one mission: Steal. Kill. Destroy.

In fact, today, I visited the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website and saw the figure. An astonishing 23,495. That’s how many confirmed deaths from the coronavirus were recorded after 5 pm. At that hour, there was an overall 512,701 confirmed cases. From actor Tom Hanks and athletes to the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Britain’s Prince Charles, this virus does not discriminate. Nationality, gender, colour, social standing, education…none of this matters to the coronavirus.

More than ever before, people are exercising cleanliness. And I believe using hand sanitizer, washing our hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and infusing the atmosphere with Lysol are so embedded in our psyches that long after we have seen the coniving back of the coronavirus, many will still be exercising caution.

UNI287422

I can’t help but think though that the God whom we serve is BIGGER than COVID-19. We are reminded in Psalm 46:1 that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

And certainly these are times of concern. I won’t attempt to downplay that fact, as so many people are affected in many ways. In fact, someone recently said on social media, “Can we start 2020 over?”

This pandemic though is cause for us to pause and think of how unpredictable life is. When the ball dropped in Times Square on January 1st and fireworks lit up the skyline over a river in Frankfurt, Germany…when we were sending “Happy New Year” greetings via WhatsApp, who really was thinking about COVID-19? Who thought nations’ health care personnel and resources would be so stretched? Who dreamed we would be standing six feet apart in line at the grocery store and not be able to hug a friend or relative? It is proof that in one year, one month, one week, one day, one hour…within one minute or even the next second, life could take an unexpected, unpredictable, unprecedented turn that’s unpleasant.

28WGT-newyearseve-1-articleLarge

But through it all, God is still in control. Psalm 107:29 says, “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” He is the SAME God and through all of the panic, uncertainty and mounting deaths, he is saying to you…to me, the same three words recorded in Mark 9:39 – “Peace be still.”

Growing in Christ,

Hadassah

 

Expect Great Rain

Posted on by
Reply

I was recently looking at the life of Elijah. I love the stories of the Old Testament. I get so many life lessons from them.

Elijah’s servant had a front row seat to how God miraculous worked through this man of God. One instance was when the three-year famine was about to come to an end.

Elijah told his servant, “There is a sound of abundance of rain” (1 Kings 18:41). While on Mt. Carmel, Elijah was so confidant rain was coming and the end of the three-year famine was upon them, he sent his servant to look for coming rain. But nothing.

Every time the servant returned to report NO RAIN, Elijah sent him back because his expectation was of the Lord. It was not until the SEVENTH time, the servant was able to report: “…Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand” (v. 44). Not long after that, the heaven was black with clouds, wind and there was a “great rain” (v 45).

You’ve been waiting. You’ve been praying. You keep going to God – MORE than seven times. But nothing.

Has God made a promise to you? How long has it been since you received that Word? Are you weary? Battle weary? Has your faith wavered? Are you wondering if you truly heard from God? Have all you seen was a “little cloud”?

He’s promised you that husband. He’s promised you that baby. He’s promised you deliverance of that child. He has promised to raise you up off your bed of affliction. He has promised you restoration in your marriage…the salvation of your children. What has He promised YOU?

Keep going back to God. Put Him in remembrance of His Word (Isaiah 43:26). Nothing He has promised you shall fail.

“Look toward the sea” (43). Look with expectation. Expect a “great rain” (45). To borrow the words of singer Sinach: God is a way maker, miracle worker, light in the darkness.” He is a promise-keeping God.

Growing in Christ,

Hadassah

Boss Faith

Posted on by
Reply

My FAVOURITE miracle in all the Bible is about the centurion and his servant. The faith displayed is on another level!

Firstly, we need bosses like the centurion who truly care about their staff. No matter how much state-of-the-art equipment an organization has and how plush the furniture is, if bosses don’t care about the humans operating those machines, sitting in those chairs and interfacing with clients, it’s seemingly just a building with robots.

The centurion cared so much about his servant who was sick and “grievously tormented,” (Matthew 8:6) he approached Jesus to heal him.

What impresses me is he told Jesus he did not have to come to the house; in fact, he didn’t even think himself worthy. He requested that Jesus simply, “…speak the Word only and my servant shall be healed” (v. 8).

Jesus’ response: “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (v.10).

The servant was healed in the selfsame hour (v. 13).

Do you realize the same God exists? The same Jesus is still seated on the Father’s right hand. And guess what? He has already spoken that Word over your situation. You now have to believe and receive that “speak the Word.”

Often we are waiting on God, when it is He who is really waiting on us.

Growing in Christ,

Hadassah