“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Have you ever pondered on these words from Jeremiah 1:5? Has it never dawned on you that we are simply living out lives that were written about us aforetime? Yes, that’s right. God already imagined every single detail about our lives before we were even conceived. How amazing! Although this kind of intentionality is hard to grasp, especially when the cares of life become overwhelming, that alone gives us an assurance that He knows where we are, He sees us, and He has already made a way out for us.
Today, I want to speak to the heart of those that find themselves in the doldrums. Life has served them lemons and they just can’t figure out how to make the lemonade which is popularly preached about. Those who feel stuck, discouraged, or like they have run out of air. You have tried to stay hopeful. Yet you feel like you are waiting for your own breakthrough while clapping for everyone else’s. If that is you, please know, you are not alone.
Sometimes, life throws us into places we never imagined we would be: joblessness, heartbreak, illness, family conflict, grief, or constant failure. You may even begin to wonder if God still loves you or if He has forgotten you. But let me encourage you: as long as you still have breath, God is not done with you yet. Just as yesterday passed, so will this moment. Remember that one season where the burden felt insurmountable? It came and passed, didn’t it? Similarly, this, too, shall pass.
Today, I challenge you to look beyond the pain. Look beyond the discomfort. Ask yourself what God may be trying to teach you through that situation. One thing I have learned through my own seasons of darkness is that there is treasure hidden in the dirt. There is a character trait that God wants to build in me or deal with. There is a pivotal lesson God wants me to learn for my next season. God wants to teach me to completely depend on Him. As Jeremiah 17:5-7 says, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.’” Sometimes the lesson is simple yet profound: Stop drawing from dry wells. Return to the Source. Although it is natural to reach out to others in our pain, do not forget to also ask God what He is doing in your situation. The greatest clarity comes when we seek His voice above all.
Friend, this is not the end of your story. He who began a good work in you will bring it unto completion (Philippians 1:6). The Author who wrote your story is still holding the pen. He is not surprised by where you are, and He has already written the way forward. Keep breathing. Keep hoping. And above all, keep looking to Him. Take a few minutes today and write down what this season may be teaching you. Then, ask God for the grace to trust Him with your next step.
By Nelly Munjanja – Midlands Christian College Attachee