When God provides answer to prayers
Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ 2 Chronicles 20:5-9
Whether one believes in God or not, experiencing trials is not an option. Everyone will go through inevitable challenges in life. The difference between a believer and unbeliever is that God will provide guidance and strength to those who believe so that His child can face every difficulty. From our text, Jehoshaphat believes that His God is bigger than any problem he can face. He knows that no matter what the future holds, he can always come to God and bring all his concerns to Him. Just like Jehoshaphat, the moment we encounter a problem, we can be assured that God is aware of what we are going through. He promised that no trial is beyond what you and I can bear. He will provide us guidance and direction so that we can stand firm in the midst of trial (1 Corinthians 10:13). So at the onset of trial, your first response is to cry out to God and know that He is your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 6:9). By faith, claim that God is present and that He is in control of whatever challenges you are going through. Pray for wisdom that will help you have a clear mind so that you can think through when He provides you a solution to the problem. What God is asking of us is to act based on our faith. There may be times that you may not like what you are seeing as His answer to your prayer but with your trust and belief you will understand that His answers are always best. You may feel exhausted and worn out at times waiting for the answer, but realize that He will also provide you endurance so that when He comes through with an answer, you can act with courage. So instead of allowing your faith to falter, why not in faith seek out God. During times of peace and prosperity, continue to exercise your faith so that when times of trials come, you will be ready to face them holding on to the promises of God. Times of crisis are unavoidable, but be grateful that we have a Father who is faithful to respond to us when we pray.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman www.my-wbc.com
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