TODAY ends a chapter of my life and begins another. Over the past 21 days while in prayer and fasting, I have received much revelation and insight about myself and who God really is.
We as Christians need to repent for our actions, whether they were intentional, unintentional or the result of pure ignorance. For as long as I can remember, we have either presented to the world a fake God, a half God or a God that doesn’t exist.
We have evangelised to our family, friends, colleagues and strangers a God who meets all our needs, answers our prayers, is a healer, a deliverer and a provider. A God who gives good gifts and rewards those who serve Him; who provides us with jobs and opportunities, and the list goes on. Although all of this is true, this is not a complete revelation or testimony of all of who God is.
God is also a God who takes from you, causes you to face hardships and trials; who doesn’t always give you what you want; who presents uncomfortable and unpleasant situations; who allows you to fail and lose everything and who allows you to feel loneliness and sadness.
Yes, whether in the valley or mountain, in good times or bad, in gain or loss, promotion or demotion, in joy or sadness, unemployment or employment, He is still God.
The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to face temptation. He not only faced temptation, but he fasted for 40 days and nights and was hungry, thirsty, lonely and uncomfortable. Jesus didn’t willingly put himself through hardship, pain, loneliness and discomfort – He was led by the Holy Spirit.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about God having a plan and that the process God takes us through is to prepare us for what is to come; and the process determines the quality of the product. Amazingly, Jesus had just been baptised and experienced the beauty of the presence of God right before He was led into the wilderness. Some would say He went from good to bad but, ironically, after He passed the test in the wilderness, He immediately began his ministry on earth. He was led in by the Holy Spirit but came out filled with the Holy Spirit. The wilderness did that; the process did that.
Yuh know, we want to know God as provider but don’t want to be broke, empty or in need. We want to know Him as healer but don’t want to be sick. We want to know Him as deliverer but don’t want to go through the mess, hit rock bottom or be lost. We want to know Him as comforter but don’t want to be hurt, betrayed or disappointed. We want to know Him as fortress and refuge but don’t want to be targeted or attacked. We want to know Him as defender, protector and overcomer but don’t want to go to war. We want to know Him as friend but don’t want to be lonely, lose friends and relationships.
That’s like wanting to be pregnant but not wanting to gain weight. That’s like wanting the certificate, qualification or degree and not wanting to study, miss sleep or give up some free time. That’s like wanting to see the world and travel and not wanting to leave the ground or go on the seas. That’s like wanting to get married but not wanting to commit, be selfless and share. That’s like wanting the nice-toned and sculpted body but not wanting to eat healthy, exercise or train.
Don’t be deceived anymore. Experiencing the fullness of who Jesus Christ comes at a price and a sacrifice. Count it pure joy when you face trials, tribulations, emptiness, that brokenness, disappointment, change and loss. Joy doesn’t mean it feels good; joy means God is in it, God is in control and God has a plan. You can think of JOY as Jesus Operating in You. And the way He operates in you is different from how He operates in me.
There is so much that we as Christians may not understand and, as a result, we should not seek to answer and justify everything to everyone. Let’s trust in God, walk by faith and always remember that in the mess there is always a message.
• Corey Worrell, a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, is director of C2J Foundation Inc., a project-based NGO focusing on social development. Email coreyworrell@gmail.com.
