The Prize

"Whenever God gives you a promise, it's because he has gone into the future and brought back the words necessary to get us there." Bill Johnson from his book, Hosting His Presence

Recently, I prayed for something very specific…again.

God’s answer seemed to be a resounding “Not yet”…again.

Not  a “No”.

Not a “Yes”.

But I a definite “Maybe”.

Last year, I had a dream about this particular prayer request. In my dream, God’s answer was a definite “YES”. It was a beautiful dream and I woke up with a longing for this prayer to be answered. Over the years, each time I think this prayer is going to be answered in the affirmative, I seem to get the same response, “Not yet”.

I’ll tell my friends that I’m not disappointed. I’ll even tell myself that very same thing but, in reality, I’m always kind of crushed. Sometimes I think that maybe I am standing in the way of my own blessing, my brain getting in the way of taking a leap of faith. But I've learned to put aside my disappointment, trust in His timing, and soak in His truths. God’s truth always crushes the Enemy’s lies.  So…

When the world jeers instead of cheers

When fake smiles turn into tears

When all you've strived for goes bust

When all you've built turns into dust

When what you thought was love was really just lust

When those you've confided in break your trust

When friends disappoint and life seems unjust

When the mirror says you’re just not enough

When the fight seems outnumbered

And the climb seems too steep

When the battle seems endless

And the pit seems too deep

When the road most traveled

Seems easier to cross

When you’re tired of pretending

And count it all loss

Stop fighting your demons

And take a deep breath

Remember GOD loves you

In spite of your mess

Sometimes you don’t feel Him

But know that’s He’s there

Whispering to your spirit,

“Hold on. I've got you. Trust me. I care.”

Don’t listen to the lies

The Enemy is shouting in your ears

The approval you seek

Won’t come from your peers

The TRUTH is

I love you with all that I AM

For I AM love

It’s for you that I came

I formed you

I want you

I gave you My SON

You’re the prize

My Child

The prize I have won

So if the answer to your prayer seems to be a resounding, “not yet”; don’t go down the path of despair. Don’t give up. Keep the faith. God's Word tells us to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. He has promised to answer. (Matthew 7:7) For He has called us this beloved prize. 

He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. (James 1:18 NLT)

All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. (1 John 4:15-16 NLT)

The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.” (Zephaniah 3:17 CEV)

So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech. (2 Thessalonians 2:16 MSG)

Love,

Yolanda