Trusting God When Nothing Seems to be Happening

 22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, "God has taken away my disgrace." 24 She named him Joseph,[a] and said, "May the Lord add to me another son" (Genesis 30:22-24).

I can relate to what Rachel is experiencing. Sometimes, it seems like everyone else is experiencing divine intervention in their lives, and it can be disheartening when we don't see the same for ourselves. But I think trusting in God is something we must work at and develop over time. It's about learning more about God's character and ways and building a relationship with Him rather than expecting immediate results from our prayers. It's a process, but the more we seek Him, the more we will find Him working in our lives in ways we may not have expected.

Trusting God when nothing seems to be happening is difficult. More significant still is not letting what we see God doing in the lives of others lead us to take matters into our own hands. We would do well to remember God's timetable does not equal ours. We live in a world where, as the slogan says, I want it now, not tomorrow. Patience is certainly not a virtue many people ascribe to. I understand it's a sad story of sibling rivalry and the desire for motherhood. 

It must have been difficult for Rachel to watch her sister Leah have child after child while she remained barren. Unfortunately, in her jealousy, Rachel decided to give her servant to Jacob to conceive a child, which ultimately caused much adversity. 

Resist the temptation to think God has forgotten about you. Have patience and courage to wait for God to move on your behalf.

It's a reminder of the importance of patience and the dangers of succumbing to envy and competitiveness. 

"God heard Rachel's prayers, and He blessed her with the ability to conceive. She gave birth to a son and joyfully declared that God had removed her shame. She named the child Joseph, meaning 'may he add,' expressing her hope for another son to be added to her family by the Lord."

The lesson learned is that we can't earn God's love through deception and trickery but through what is true and correct.

Question: which one do you identify with, Leah or Rachel? Please go and read their story in its fullness before you answer.

Then God Remembered Rachel,

Minister Sylvia Joyner

Insights Into the Power of Unity: Ephesians 4:16

 "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love"(Ephesians 4:16, KJV). https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ephesians-4-16

Greetings,

The concept behind gardening and farming is that it is vital that the irrigation hoses are maintained and joined correctly. "If there is an obstruction in the water output, the flow of water will be disrupted." causing the hoses to burst. Improper maintenance of the hoses and connections can lead to leaks, resulting in a lack of water supply to the plants' commonly grown areas, ultimately hindering the growth and productivity of the plants. 

It's essential to ensure proper maintenance of the hoses to prevent such instances from occurring. Likewise, as appropriate connections are vital in farming and gardening, we must remain sufficiently connected to Christ and our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

The imagery suggests that growing and working together has benefits, namely growth. Just as important is that the Gospel be taught and spoken in truth. Without this acknowledgment, the Gospel becomes polluted and not understandable to all. We must refrain from deceiving those we minister to through error and immaturity. Also, verse 15 of Ephesians states, "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head even Christ." 

The truth we share is found only in Jesus Christ. 

Our continuance in the growth and knowledge of Christ produces an understanding of how significant each member is in the body of Christ. In essence, the goal of working together is unity.

 

How is this accomplished?

 

Through Grace given, each member of the body of Christ has been given spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-8) for "perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry; for the of the body of Christ" Ephesians 4:12. The Word of God says at least one gift. However, with that one spiritual gift, our responsibility is to discover your gift and minister in how the Spirit empowers us. As we mature spiritually and become more like Christ, our relationships with other believers strengthen, allowing for growth as each person contributes (vs. 16). 

What person ministering the Word of God does not want to experience growth? 

Even if we do not hold a leadership position in the church, such as a pastor or elder, we still play a crucial part in the body of Christ. We all can contribute towards the growth and building up of others in our unity through Christ.

Question: What would you say to someone who argues that one can have a strong relationship with Christ without being involved in a community of believers?

The Power of Unity,

Minister Sylvia Joyner