I haven't posted in a while because God has been teaching me a ton and separating them into blog topics is difficult. So today I will go with the snake bite.
A very dear friend of mine is currently going through a difficult situation. She received a very large promise from God. A promise that currently seems impossible to our human eyes and minds.
She has tested this promise with scripture and prayer and continues to receive nothing but encouragement on a very narrow and rocky path.
She got some very discouraging news about her promise recently. My heart broke for her as she cried out to God asking if she had heard wrong. And I must say that even though I don't know anyone who seeks God as fervently as she does, I also doubted. I mean it is a really difficult thing and surely God wouldn't ask us to go through something so very difficult without being able to see the ending!
Then I remembered Paul. The very first story in the bible that I ever read and studied all the way through. (Thank you Beth Moore)
I may have mentioned it before but the guy was beaten up and imprisoned because of the gospel on many occasions. In Acts 21 he arrives in Jerusalem where he was promptly beaten and arrested. In Acts 23 men tried their darndest to murder the guy while he was still in prison.
So things are looking bleak.
Then Acts 23:11 says:
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
Rome was Paul's birth place. A place that he had not been to in a very long time. It probably held a special place in his heart. He probably longed to share all that he had learned about Jesus with the people of his home. God told Paul that he was going to Rome. You can take those red letters to the freaken bank. God doesn't just say crap and then take it back later.
Looking at it from this side of the page it seems so simple. Especially since we can skip to the end and see that Paul did indeed make it Rome. But we forget Paul did not have the great privilege of reading how this was going to play out. He was in a prison cell and there were many people calling for his death.
Because Paul had been through so much already I can only assume that he was ready (or more ready than I usually am) to trust God to see him to Rome. I would guess that his walk thus far had bred a deep reliance on all of God's promises.
Skipping ahead to Chapter 27 Paul is FINALLY sailing to Rome, when a big storm comes through and the ship crashes. I have a really hard time believing that Paul did not have any doubts at this point. Not that God had promised him wrong but that he had heard wrong. I mean if God had really wanted him to get to Rome wouldn't He have just calmed the storm? This whole ship wreck thing seems excessive.
He is bitten by a poisonous snake! WHAT THE HECK?!
In the end he gets a sweet witnessing opportunity AND winds up in Rome but wouldn't that have made you doubt yourself? Doubt God?
One thing about my friend is that she never once got angry with or doubted God.
He has given me some amazing people to learn from.
As I prayed with her, God gave me some amazing insights into Paul's story. This obstacle was her snake bite. Just a thing that wants to make her believe that she will never receive that promise. But God is so much bigger than that. So much bigger than any storm or poison this world can throw at us.
If you believe that God has told you something that you are going to receive or do, cling to that. Pray over it, test it against the scriptures, and ask God for confirmation. Then hold onto that promise because it will never fail you. God will never tell you something only to let you down.
However, I must warn you that, it will NOT be easy. The clearer you hear something from the Lord, the more difficult your journey will be. Sometimes it will seem like God has promised you the impossible. Even though we like to say that ALL things are possible with God, we don't really practice it.
I know I don't.
But it is in fact the truth. There is nothing that is too big for Him. If you are currently on a journey that is leading you to your promised miracle then read those words again and be encouraged.
There is NOTHING that is too big for Him.
He told you something and He is going to see it through to the end. The best part is that you don't actually have to do anything but hold on for the ride. He is going to carry you all the way through.
What is the thing making you doubt God's promise? What is your snake bite?
Keep in mind: the bigger the fear, the bigger the resulting blessing.
I love you all,
EMG
