While you are out getting your last minute gifts and things for dinner and entertaining, stop to help somebody. I know that some of you might not have a lot so you are thinking how you can help, but a few dollars is a lot to somebody who is without. I am reminded everyday looking at the news and reading Facebook that my life could be much harder than it is, but I am thankful that God is still in the blessing business. See I could complain because I want more money than what I have, but somebody is standing on the street begging because they have none. I could complain because I wanted to get more gifts but then I think about the many names that were on the Angel Tree because they really needed help. I could complain about my home but what about the folks living under the overpasses or sleeping on the streets? I could complain because I didn’t get to eat what I wanted for dinner last night, but somebody is digging through trash to get the scraps that someone threw away just to eat. What do I have to complain about? I could complain about family members but then I think about the families who are without loved ones for the first time this Holiday season. I could complain about the pain in my body, but then I think about all that Jesus had to go through in order for us to be free and I realize, my complaining means I’m ungrateful. God has given us all that we need, if we just have faith. He didn’t say we needed a gallon jug of faith, but the bible said faith the size of a mustard seed is all you need. Just imagine what a dab of faith could do for you?
The man at the pool of Bethesda was laid on his bed of affliction for 38 years (John 5:1-8), but we complain when we have a cold for 2 days. The woman with an issue of blood toiled for 12 long years (Mark 5:25-34), but we complain when we hit our toe. Blind Bartimaeus had no sight but he heard Jesus coming through Jericho (Mark 10:46-52) and he asked for healing and it was received, but we lay on our beds with sickness asking why God is punishing us. Baby, God isn’t punishing you when sickness comes, but he is testing your faith. See, the 3 people mentioned above were all healed, not because of the power Jesus had, but it was because of their faith. Jesus said to all of them, “your faith has healed you.” Don’t believe me, read it for yourself. When I watch my Uncle Larry anoint folks, who are going through pain, sickness, cancer, etc., with oil he always tells them that the oil has no power because the power is in their faith. If you stand before your Pastor asking for him/her to pray over you and you don’t believe what you asking for, then you ask in vain. The power of your healing and blessings are in your faith. Faith, in the dictionary, is defined as confidence or trust in a person or thing but faith in the bible is defined as “the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1).”
When we have faith, we know that no matter what we go through its only temporary but without faith we allow our struggles to overtake us. When we have faith we see sickness as a temporary ailment but without faith we allow it to kill us. When we have faith, we see the friends that walk off as God’s way of removing a stumbling block but without faith we see folks giving up on us. When we have faith, when folk count us out we take it as a sign to work harder but without faith, we become what folk say we are. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” See, when you walk by faith, you continue to walk even after it looks like the road has ended. Yea, you said I wouldn’t graduate high school but now I am a college graduate. You said I wouldn’t amount too much after having a baby as a teenager, but now I am a successful career woman doing things on my own. You said I’d always be a junkie, but God picked me up, washed me off and threw all my old sins away and made me brand new, now I only get a high from the Holy Ghost. You said I’d never have anything because of who my momma & daddy were, but you forget who my Father was and now I’m your boss.
When it seems like giving up is your only option, look up. When folks have knocked you down, get up. When it seems like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, stand up. When you’ve gotten down to the bottom of the barrel and it seems like there is nothing more, reach up. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says (The Message Bible) “So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” Isn’t that good news? God is saying, you may see clouds now but keep looking because when the clouds break, the sun will shine. Yea, I know you may have cancer and you’ve lost all your hair to the chemo, but it’s just shedding away the old in order to get the new. I know you may be without a job but I am just preparing you for the blessing that is on the way. I know that momma and daddy is gone, but I am just strengthening you for future battles. So just hold on! With faith comes fullness and when you’re full you’re filled with the Holy Ghost that allows you to fulfill all the things that God has destined for you.
Lakisha, the Author 