God, Where Are You?

Have you ever asked God that seemingly basic question before: Where are you? I have more bills than money, I have more stress than satisfaction, I have more instability than purpose, I have more problems than solutions, I have more weaknesses than strengths, I have more misery than joy, I have more hatred than love, I have more cloudy days than sunny, I have more bitterness than contentment, and I have more suffering than advantage. During these difficult stages in life, it seems we either turn to God or against Him. As a result, we either grow bitter or better: God takes no pleasure in punishing His people, but He does take pleasure in giving mercy. This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?” – (Isaiah 66:1). Our God is everywhere!

The Bible tells us, in 1 Sam. 1:15 (NAS) about a woman, Hannah, who was “oppressed in spirit.” She knew well what it was to cry for God’s blessing and not see immediate results to her situation. But, can wanting a blessing teach us to be persistent in our prayer life? Hannah soon discovered there was no one who could help her, except her Creator. I have learned that when we don’t deal with the matters concerning our hearts, we rob ourselves of the blessings of God. As soon as the emotions or awareness of resentment, hostility, hatred, bitterness, anger, being mistreated by someone or unforgiveness arises, deal with it immediately. Did you know that bad emotions can also be planted by the things you allow into your spirit? How about negative vibes and energy from music, TV Broadcast, people or even ill-spoken words? Many people allow bad emotions to attach to their hearts and then bury them, not realizing they’re still affected or enslaved to these emotions. Maybe that could be the reason you are not seeing any changes in your lives.

When viewing unforgiveness via Merriam Webster, we find the following: “having or making no allowance for error or weakness.” I have learned that forgiving people is not for them, but for me, and the same can be true for you, too. Here’s what Joyce Meyer says in an article she wrote about “The Poison of Unforgiveness”. “Another way that forgiveness helps me is that it releases God to do His work in me. I’m happier and feel better physically when I’m not filled with the poison of unforgiveness. Serious diseases can develop because of the stress and pressure that bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness put on a person.” I believe these bad emotions prevent the Holy Spirit from moving freely through you, preventing you from experiencing the intimacy and closeness to God. Many times our blessings are blocked because of OURSELVES, so don’t blame God because YOU can’t let something go. God did not give us the spirit of strongholds nor hindrance; these come from the enemy, the one looking to deceive and destroy us. Whatever the stronghold is that’s hindering your blessings, just LET IT GO.

Could God be trying to get my attention? Hearing from God is not always easy. When life is coming at us, and it’s hard to understand what is going on, we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for clarification. When I think of moments when God has tried to get my attention, at first, I think of times when difficult things happened. I would turn to God, dramatically, and seek His help in my life. We must listen intently and carefully, for His voice, through the crowd of noises in the world in which we live. No matter what you’re going to face in life, you’re not going to face it alone. God is with you, He is in you, and He is for you. Pastor Victor Ehiemere wrote a book called “Generous City,” and in the book, he summed it up nicely when he said, “When we deserved death, God sent His Son, Jesus, in our stead. When we deserved condemnation to darkness and sorrow, He brought us His light and joy. God doesn’t just love us in our worst; He makes us our best from our worst.” I have experienced unforgiveness, and it took the spirit of God to move me forward every time.  It’s not easy to let go. It’s not even natural. Once you learn how to forgive, you find that the prisoner has been set free. Could that prisoner, be YOU?