I may not be all that God has destined me to be, YET, but I am nothing like I use to be. When I look at myself and where I am, in this life, I won’t be disappointed because God has anointed my walk and with his anointing comes trials but those trials leads to triumphs and with every triumphs comes my victory and my victory makes me victorious! So I’m good because I’m living. I may not wear a $200 pair of shoes, but I can walk just fine in the ones I got for $19.99. I may not be able to buy a $100 pair of jeans, but the ones I found at Goodwill for $4 fits me just as well. I may not live in a $1.5 million dollar house, but where I am living is my home, so all is well. See, I’ve found that the clothes and shoes folk wear, the car they drive, the house they live in and the money in their pocket won’t get them a free pass through Heaven’s gates. Yea, you may look good but how is your heart? Because Matthew 15:18 says “But the words you speak come from the heart–that’s what defiles you.”
So, I won’t wish for what others have because I don’t know what they went through to get it. Just because I see you riding in a new car, I don’t know you’ve endured years of spousal abuse and the car was just another “sorry” gift. No, I won’t wish for the clothes that you have on because while I’m wishing for that shirt, you’re out stealing it and just because I wasn’t there when you got, I’m still held accountable for receiving stolen goods. No, I won’t wish for the husband you got because even though it may look like you all have the perfect marriage, behind closed doors, he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. No, I won’t pray for yours because I am just fine with the blessings and the gifts that I have. Instead I’ll keep praying for God to enlarge the territory that I already have or better yet, allow me the resources to keep what I already got. So many times, we keep adding to the pile of mess we already got and before long we are hoarders. If you consistently add bills on top of the ones you got, without paying a few of them off, you will soon find yourself in a world of trouble. If you keep adding air to a balloon, it’ll eventually pop. Well, so will you if you keep adding stress to your life.
You’ve got all these bills and you can’t even enjoy life because you’re spending almost every day working every hour that is offered just to keep your head above water. Why work yourself to death for things you can’t enjoy? If you know you can’t afford it, change it. If you know you don’t need it, cut it off. Use better judgment with life matters. Reduce that cable bill that you’re paying over $200 for even though you’re never at home to watch it and you don’t have to open up a new credit card at Macy’s just because the cashier asks you too. You know you have a wallet filled with ones now that you’re barely paying so why add fuel to an already burning fire? You do know that stress can kill you, right? Then what good are your hands? Ecclesiastes 9:10 says “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Yea, I know that you’ve been on your job for 20 years and I assume they appreciate all you do, but you’re no good to them dead and as soon as they can, they’ll have an ad in the paper to re-hire. Their business doesn’t stop because you did. But had you chosen to lessen your load and release a lot of the stress that you’ve been under, you’d probably still be here. Ecclesiastes 5:18 says “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.”
God has given you a life to live and he didn’t mean for you to work it away. So go through all the trials and tribulations and get up with your arms high claiming the victory over your circumstance. Say, I may be temporarily out of funds now but it won’t last. Say, I may be without a car now but it won’t last. Say, I may be without a job now but it won’t last. Say, I may be arguing with my spouse now but it won’t last. Say, I may be sick now but it won’t last. Say, I may be grieving now but it won’t last. 2 Corinthians 4:17 states, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Isn’t that worth shouting about? All the troubles that we face now are just preparing us for what God has already promised! And if that isn’t enough, the troubles you face make you stronger and wiser to face them, if they shall come again. The next time trouble beckons you out to the middle of the ring, you’ll be ready and able to handle it, not because you’ve the champ in KO’s but because you’ve been prepped and prepared by the best trainer ever. And even though you may get knocked to your knees in the first round, you got someone standing in your corner with his arms stretched out ready to be tagged in. See, when you tag God into the ring, your battle then turns into rejoicing and with rejoicing come restoration and with restoration comes relief and relief brings rest. Because once you’ve rested you’ll be ready for battle and after the battle comes victory. You can’t claim victory without first winning the fight and with God, there are no losers.
Lakisha, the Author 