Your Purpose May Be Wrapped Up in the Path

(Acts 9:9 & 15-16) “For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything”…..”Go!  This man is My chosen instrument to carry My Name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name.”

Why Lord, So Long?

We often ask, me included, during extremely trying times, “Why God?  Have you not heard my cry” and “Why is this suffering, this trial that seems to have no hope and only darkness, seem to be never-ending?”  The hardest part is watching a loved one go through a dark period and hear them cry out to the Lord and watch no change take place. You see them dive deeper and deeper into darkness and know that in their situation, it is so bad that you can do nothing; nothing, and prayer is the only thing you have.  You know that only God can help and deliver, and yet, you see no change.

 This truly breaks your heart, but you have no choice but to keep crying out to the Lord and trust that He will deliver as He says He will.

 (Psalm 107:5-6) ‘They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.  Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.”

 You start to wonder why, “Lord, I cried out to you in prayer, and so has my loved one, and yet, You seem so far off, where are You?” 

The Path Breeds the Purpose

Then, as I read the verse above, the Lord showed me that sometimes, their purpose is wrapped up in the path they are on and need to follow through.  There are things on the path, lessons that need to be learned, and impurities that need to be uprooted, that can only be done by following the path all the way through.  Sometimes God’s purpose for their lives is birthed on the path they are following. 

(Matthew 15:13) “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.” 

Be assured that God has already been through ahead of you and will not lead you astray; dare to trust Him. 

(Deuteronomy 9:3) “But be assured today that the Lord your God is the One who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire.  He will destroy them; He will subdue them before you.  And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you.” 

If you are facing a difficult situation and you see no way out and darkness seems to surround you, fear not!  For God is with you and “He will never leave you nor forsake you;” if He would send His One and only Son to die on the cross to take the punishment of yours, mine, and the sins of the whole world that you would be able to spend eternity with Him, do you think that He would just leave it at that? 

No!  He also sent the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to lead us, teach us, and comfort us that we might enjoy the fullness and blessings of life He has promised us. 

(John 14:26) “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.”  

Victory is Promised!

 Dare to trust Him and be patient with Him, believing that some things cannot be brought to pass instantaneously, but must be worked out, like the blind man whom Jesus healed in stages.  He first saw people “walking around as trees.”  You have God on your side!  Trust Him and give Him time, just as He gave you time to finally make Him your Lord and Savior. 

(Romans 8:31) “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

God promises victory; He promises to fulfill His purpose for us.  He is faithful to all of His promises.  He is a spirit, and not a man.  So, He will NEVER go against His Word, His promises, and His covenant!  Trust Him and in your promised victory!

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:57-58)