“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God” –

William Carey, who is called the father of modern missions

We are almost into the third month of the year can you believe that! So many things have happened in our lives since January, some good and some not so good. But that’s life right!?

Today in speaking to a young man who we know from New York who wanted to meet with us for some counsel, we expressed our belief that life eventually hits everyone pretty hard some times and that we all suffer setbacks. However, even in those times God is working. In particular, I told this young man who has been struggling with life outside of NY (believe me I understand) “even when you are not working in ministry for God, God is working in you for ministry.”

Sometimes those who have been working doing “something” for the Kingdom since birth (literally sometimes this is true!) and those who have been in Bible college or seminary, don’t feel like they are anointed ‘anymore’ because they are not actively in a role. This is especially true in Pentecostal circles, but that is a not necessarily true. Sometimes you need to “chill”, step back and allow God to show you a few things about yourself. There is a dark side to leaders and it’s usually in those “lull” moments that God starts working in you to show you what they are.

However, I never want anyone to feel like their best days are behind them just because they have a selah moment. That is not true for him, for YOU or for me. That is what the enemy of our soul would want us to believe because he knows that if we accept this lie from the pit of the hell, we would stop expecting and attempting as the opening quote states.

But all this made me think…and I came to the conclusion that I am still expecting great things from and in a very real way He has come though for me and my family more than anyone outside of my family will ever know. However, I know how hard it is to keep expecting great things from God when life hits you in the gut. I think our humanity problem stems from the fact that we put on the mask and say everything is ok when we know its not and we don’t do what this young man did, have the courage to talk to someone about what is messing with us mentally, spiritually, physically or all three!  We rather play the “Hallelujah anyhow” card and not deal with our issues and then we stay, as Rev. Ray Rivera used to preach to us at LPAC, “emotional midgets while the world around us thinks we are spiritual giants.”

Life’s hard knocks can also make us gun shy in our attempts to do great things for God. Perhaps we have failed in something in the eyes of the world, perhaps your life with your family or children didn’t turn out like you had dreamed, perhaps someone you dearly loved and prayed for died anyway and you just can’t seem to expect or attempt anything for God anymore. I’ve been there too friend but again, I have to point you back to you. YOU have to do the work to get to know you. You have to see yourself in all your glory and gory. You have to be honest with who you have become up until this point in your life. It is only in this way, when you work on being authentic with God and yourself that you can truly become who God intended for you to become. Faking it takes work people! It’s better to come clean and let God work.  As you see Him working in you in ways you know ONLY GOD could, you start to believe again, you start to expect again and yes, you even start to attempt great things for God again.

Each day is a new day and God’s grace and mercy is new every morning. I hope you wake up tomorrow (or for some today) knowing that today can be the first day of a new life for you and God. I hope you believe that even after all you’ve been through…the best is yet to come in your life. Believe it!