When building a house the hard work is usually the foundation phase – digging the trenches, laying the foundation etc. So, too, it is with farming. The farmer first needs to break the hard ground, till the soil, and prepare before the seed is put into the ground. When building a house or farming, the preparation for the promise of a strong house (that can withstand the storm) and a good harvest is in the process of the preparation.
There are many accounts in the Bible where God’s promise came after much preparation and perseverance. There were:
- 3 men in the fire (Daniel 3)
- 1 man in the Lion’s den (Daniel 6)
- 1 man in front of a giant (1 Sam 17)
- 1 man in the pit (Gen 37)
- 12 men in a storm (Mark 4)
- 1 Shunamite woman with a jar of oil (2 Kings 4)
- A widow with a handful of flour (1 Kings 17)
- 2 men in prison (Acts 16)
- About 2.4 million people went to an unknown land in the exodus (Exodus 14)
Many faced unthinkable challenges before the promise!
Jesus had to go to the cross for us to receive the promise of eternal life. During His time on earth, He had to endure much suffering. In Hebrews 12:2 we read, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (NKJV)
Today – take your eyes off the circumstance and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus! Author, Speaker, and Lead Like Jesus board member Lauren Miller reminded me recently not to waste the suffering! Your suffering can become your testimony. Through the storm, He is Lord!
Be encouraged by what God says today:
- Exodus 14: 14 – “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
- Mark 4:39 – “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
- Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God”
Our Lead Like Jesus Revisited 6-Week Study Guide can help lay the foundation for leading like Jesus.
