Bad news doesn’t mean the end of you…

We live in a world that is saturated with evil. But how do you respond

when bad things happen? Just the other day I got some news that was bad but I had to stop myself. How was

I going to respond to it. was I going to freak out and lose it? Was I going to let fear get the best of

me?

We always have a choice of how we respond to bad news.

 

Jairus was in trouble. His daughter was very sick and he needed help. That is when he decided to go to

Jesus for help. All was going well. He met with Jesus and told Him his problem and Jesus agreed

to go with him to his daughter. But on his way to his daughter something happened;

 

“While He was still speaking, there came some from the ruler’s house, who said [to Jairus], 

Your daughter has died. Why bother and distress the Teacher any further?”

Mark 5:35

 

In that split second Jairus’s world collapsed. His daughter died. Despair was already walking through the

door of his soul.

Like I said before, we live in a world that is saturated with evil. Bad things happen. But how we respond

is so important. Let’s move on.

 

Despair was almost through the door but before it could make itself comfortable Jesus stepped in.

 

“Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, 

Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.” 

Mark 5:36

 

In the face of bad news, Jesus told Jairus to believe and not give in to fear. He told him to believe

that He could turn things around.

We don’t have to give in to the bad news that comes our way. I don’t know what kind of news you

have received today but you don’t have to accept it. There is another option. You have another

choice. You can keep on believing…

You can decide to keep trusting God instead of giving in to fear, instead of accepting the bad news

you have been given. It takes faith to do that. Choosing to trust God over believing the bad news

takes faith and only faith.

 

King David was another man who had to deal with some really bad news. When he got back to

Ziklag he found his home had been plundered. The enemy had taken everything of his and his soldiers.

Their families were taken, their possessions were gone. There was nothing left.  There was even talk

among the soldiers of killing David. He was in a really bad place but he did something really amazing.

Let’s take a look at what he did;

 

“David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them

all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. 

But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 

1 Samuel 30:6

 

His hope in the face of the bad news was in the Lord. He didn’t let fear overcome him. Instead,

he encouraged himself in the Lord. He reminded himself of how good the Lord was to him.

He brought to remembrance how the Lord delivered him from his enemies!

(That’s what I think he was doing!)

 

How do we respond to bad news? I hope you can see it’s really important how you respond.

You can either accept what has happened or make a decision to put your hope in the Lord.

Let’s make the right decision today, the decision to trust God.

Bless you, friends!

 

Rolain

 

 

What the past teaches.

The past has not been easy. It’s been difficult and at the time it was hard to make sense of all that was

happening. But the past as difficult as it was revealed an important truth, a truth that helped me face

the storms and trials of today.

 

As crazy as the past has been I am still here. When I was going through it all with no idea of how things were

going to turn out God carried me through it. No matter how dark things got God always carried

me through and continues to.

 

The lesson is this; If God could deliver me back then, He will do it again today. 

 

Learn a lesson from the past. The Lord will be there for you as He was back then. Whatever storm you in

now, know that God will deliver you like He did before. Look at all the things He has brought you through

and be at peace knowing He will do it again and again.

 

Sometimes we go through some really intense times and think this is the time when our luck runs out but

listen to me, it won’t happen. God will never let you down no matter how many times the enemy tries to

destroy you.  he won’t win. And that’s the lesson the past teaches.

God will always be victorious. He will always bring you through the darkness.

 

Bless you, friends.

 

Rolain

When the enemy is stronger than…..

“When you go to war against your enemies, you might see horses and chariots. 

Their army might be bigger than yours. But don’t be afraid of them. The Lord your God

will be with you. He brought you out of Egypt.”

Deuteronomy 20:1

 

As I read this scripture I look at the battles I have faced and still face. There is no battle I have

thought was a breeze. Every battle has been intense, bigger than me.

There is no battle that has been small. The purpose of the enemy’s attack is to take me out.

He doesn’t attack just for kicks, no! His motivation is real, deadly.

How many times I have felt overwhelmed and powerless because of the trials and storms that have

come my way. The scary truth is that without YAH the enemy would have snuffed me out a long

time ago!

 

Israel were called by YAH to a land flowing with milk and honey. In the natural that was

mission impossible! They would not be able to possess the promise land because the nations

they would have to face were stronger and mightier than they were. To possess the promise

land they would have to face giants! Never mind the promise land, they had to leave Egypt first!

Like I said, mission impossible!

Let’s look at two scriptures,

 

“They told Moses,”We went to the land where you sent us. It is a land where much food grows! 

Here is some of its fruit. But the people who live there are strong. Their cities are walled and large.

We even saw some Anakites there. ” 

Numbers 13:27, 28

 

“Then Caleb told the people near Moses to be quiet. Caleb said, “We should go up and take the land

for ourselves. We can do it.

But the men who had gone with him said, “We can’t attack those people. They are stronger than we are.”

Numbers 13:30, 31

 

“We can’t attack those people. they are stronger than we are.” 

 

The spies were correct technically speaking. They were weaker than the people occupying the promise land.

They were never going to defeat them on their own. But that is why they needed the Lord. With

Him on their side they would defeat the stronger nations.

 

No matter how threatening the trials we face are, we need to know that YAH is with us and because

He is with us we will come out victorious. No matter how hard things get, we will be saved not because

we are strong enough but because YAH is the One who is strong enough.

 

As I end this post I want to leave you with one final thought.

The storms that come our way will always be bigger than us but we are not alone as we face them.

So maybe you feel overwhelmed because of the bills you have to pay and you feel like there is no

way out, know that there is a way out because YAH is with you.

Maybe your family broke up and your future is suddenly unclear, know that things will work out

for your good because the Lord is with you.

No matter the problem you are facing right now, know that the Lord of Hosts is fighting for you.

The devil will not win. He is a defeated foe and doesn’t stand a chance against the Lord of Lords!

Don’t be discouraged, put all of your hope in the Lord. He will help you in your most trying time.

Where you are weak He is strong!

Amen.

 

Rolain

 

 

Because of His faithfulness……

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

 

“After that I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse [appeared]!

The One Who was riding it is called Faithful (Trustworthy, Loyal, Incorruptible,

Steady) and True, and He passes judgement and wages war in righteousness

(holiness, justice, and uprightness).”

Revelation 19:11

 

No matter what you are going through know that He is faithful and true.

Your year may have started on a bad note and you can’t see the light but know He is faithful

and true.

You may have fallen and have no strength to get up but take heart because He is faithful and true.

He will deliver you, He will guide you through the pain, He will give you hope, He will restore what

has been stolen.

You may be bound and feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders but turn to Him because

He is faithful and true.

 

Don’t be discouraged, don’t fear, don’t lose hope friend, because He is faithful and true.

The enemy may try to deceive you into thinking YAH doesn’t care for you but that’s a lie.

Expect Him to move in your life, expect Him to turn your mess into something beautiful.

The tables will turn in your favor, the light will shine again, you will get your breakthrough

because He is faithful and true.

 

Amen

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

You will remain standing at the end of the day…….

As I look back at the year and look at all that has happened I can’t help but

thank YAH. There have been good things that have happened as well as bad things

but the thing that matters is that I am standing!

I was speaking to a friend of mine recently about the challenges he and his

family were going through. It was a hard year for them but once again YAH

came through.

I would like to share a scripture that I read this morning which I have read many

times but really came alive this morning for me which encouraged me concerning

the trials and storms we face,

 

“We are like a bird escaped from the snare of the fowlers;

the snare is broken, and we have escaped!”

Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 124:7, 8

 

No matter what kind of trap the enemy sets we are like the bird spoken about

in the verse. YAH always rescues us!

We always escape! The trap will not accomplish its purpose.

No matter how difficult a situation is, YAH will deliver us.

No matter how foolproof the enemy thinks his plan is it will not succeed.

 

As I look back at some of the storms I have been in I am amazed how I survived.

I was not supposed to survive but I did! It’s only by His grace that I am here.

 

Be encouraged friends. There is a way out of the deep waters you are in.

YAH has a made a way out. Don’t lose hope!

Trust Him in the storm you in.

 

Our help is in the name of the Lord!!

 

Rolain

 

 

How to Overcome “Jericho”!

We all have insurmountable challenges in our lives. We face situations that threaten to drown us or take us out for good but what do we do in those threatening or seemingly hopeless situations?! The answer is found in the book of Joshua. A friend of mine shared this revelation with me years ago but as I read the story of Joshua this past week I was reminded of what it meant.
The Israelite s had just crossed the Jordon and were in the promise land about to carry out what God had called them to do but understand they had never seen walled cities before. They had never seen giants before and the first place they had to defeat had all of that!!!
Were they afraid, I think so. Did they have doubts, I think so. But look at what the word says in Joshua 5:13-15;

And then this, while Joshua was there near Jericho: He looked up and saw right in front of him a man standing, holding his drawn sword.
Joshua stepped up to him and said, “Whose side are you on – ours or our enemies?”
He said, Neither. I’m commander of God’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell to the ground, and worshiped. He asked,
“What orders does my Master have for his servant?”
God’s army commander ordered Joshua, “Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy.” Joshua did it.

Joshua approached Jericho but instead of looking at Jericho and its walls he looked up!!! He knew there was Someone bigger than “Jericho”! When he looked up, he saw God, he saw his deliverance! That’s what happens when you look up instead of your problem, your “Jericho”.
When you focus on your problem you become like the 10 spies who saw defeat. They saw no answer to their problem. All they saw were giants and walls and grasshoppers!!!!
By looking at Jericho they lost sight of how big God really was…
When we focus on the “Jericho” in our lives we lose sight of God and how big God really is. Instead you begin to focus on the details. I never finished school so I am not smart enough, I didn’t get brought up in a rich family, I never went to university, I am not tall enough, I am the wrong color, I am not rich enough, I am fat and so on and so on!
When you come to your “Jericho” learn to look up. Your deliverance comes from looking up at God who is bigger than anything we will ever face!!!
Watch and see how small your problems are against a big God!!!

So as I conclude this post I would really like you to think about where you are focused when you approach the “Jericho’s” in your life. It’s ok to see the facts and even admit there is a problem but don’t stop there. Yes, Jericho is a walled city and it has giants but God is our Deliverer, He is our Rock and Strong Tower!
He is our only Hope in the face of insurmountable challenges!

Rolain