Job 6:7
Oh, that I might have my request,that God would grant what I hope for.
For the past 2 weeks, I had two prayers of my heart consume me. Everyday in the morning, while at work, before I sleep and yes, even when I'm lumbering to the toilet at 3am for toilet break, I'll mutter my prayers for the 2 matters.
The larger of the 2 issues that consumed my thoughts was for Matthew to get his parent's approval to go Cebu for the mission trip. His trip was conditional upon his passing his exams, which didn't materialised, to my greatest horror. Just when it seemed doomed, I chanced upon the verse in Proverbs that boldly proclaims "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails". It caused me to leap up in renewed hope as I started imagining in bold faith an upcoming victory in my prayer.
So I started going forth sharing with Matthew that in everything that was encountered, we will choose to believe that the fulfilment of the Mission trip will happen because simply, God's purposes will prevail! Boy was I hyped up and fired on to see how it would happened, especially since Matthew also undertook the task of fasting and making daily prayers for the trip's fulfilment.
Then, as per all dramatic moments required, Matthew drops a bombshell on Friday night to say that during his dinner with his father, the clear answer given to his punitive attempt to ask about the mission trip participation came back with a BIG FAT "No" answer. Needless to say, the walls of faith starts cracking up and I reiterated with reduced faith that "God's purposes shall prevail".
I'm not sure if you have ever encountered moments like this where there's an experience of momentarily hyped up bold faith followed by an event that causes a downhill slide into a clump of reduced faith & self-doubt. I've learned that even the most experienced warrior would encounter situations like these throughout his/her lifetime, what more normal folks.
If we look at the passage above, we see Job and his heartfelt plea. What's interesting is that this 1 verse is actually a plea of a grieving man to have God end it all because of the pain and misery encountered. The continuing verse goes to state what was his request to God : "that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off!"
I may not have yearned for God to crush me, but just last weekend, I muttered with a similiar perspective for God to just end things and let it be - rather than to have it ding-dong about with no respite in sight and massive uncertainities leading up to the date of departure-1 Dec 06. I may confess that these moments in life where we encounter such ups and downs coupled with ongoing work/studies issues really stretches one's faith and stress levels to the maximum.
Inspite of everything, like Job throughout his struggles, we must stand in firm resolution. That's when faith progresses from a mere hyped sensation towards a small but convicted belief. In the midst of self-doubts, questioning and stress, even with no sight of victory nearby, we must believe that God would grant us what we hoped for, and the matter prayed for must happen because the results will bring about God's glory and further the kingdom of God!
Like little baby steps, I had to mutter to myself constantly, "the purposes of God shall prevail and God would grant what I hope for". Thereafter to make even bolder step to prepare for the fulfilment of our prayers. (i.e Matthew to bring home the Skittles sweets needed for the trip's party, check and renew the passport...)
Amidst all these, of course, was the usual worries, fears and self doubts. Tapered to as little as possible because for once I understood that God is really the only reason why I could have hope in such an impossible situation. On my own, it was all a state of hopelessness, especially with each passing day, the trip looming and his expired passport still in his parent's possession.
Today, Friday, 1 December 10:15pm, I'll be meeting Matthew and the rest of the Mission trippers at the budget terminal because I'll be sending them off for what I truely believe to be an awesome life-changing trip. My heart rejoices in overwhelming joy and my face is glowing with victorious glee because on Wednesday night Matthew's father verbally consented to his going for the trip. It was an edgy night for him before the talk with his dad and details aside, the conclusion was a "Yes".
To God be the Glory!
Blessings,
M.
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:24)
01 December 2006
God Would Grant What I Hope For
Job 6:7
Oh, that I might have my request,that God would grant what I hope for.
For the past 2 weeks, I had two prayers of my heart consume me. Everyday in the morning, while at work, before I sleep and yes, even when I'm lumbering to the toilet at 3am for toilet break, I'll mutter my prayers for the 2 matters.
The larger of the 2 issues that consumed my thoughts was for Matthew to get his parent's approval to go Cebu for the mission trip. His trip was conditional upon his passing his exams, which didn't materialised, to my greatest horror. Just when it seemed doomed, I chanced upon the verse in Proverbs that boldly proclaims "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails". It caused me to leap up in renewed hope as I started imagining in bold faith an upcoming victory in my prayer.
So I started going forth sharing with Matthew that in everything that was encountered, we will choose to believe that the fulfilment of the Mission trip will happen because simply, God's purposes will prevail! Boy was I hyped up and fired on to see how it would happened, especially since Matthew also undertook the task of fasting and making daily prayers for the trip's fulfilment.
Then, as per all dramatic moments required, Matthew drops a bombshell on Friday night to say that during his dinner with his father, the clear answer given to his punitive attempt to ask about the mission trip participation came back with a BIG FAT "No" answer. Needless to say, the walls of faith starts cracking up and I reiterated with reduced faith that "God's purposes shall prevail".
I'm not sure if you have ever encountered moments like this where there's an experience of momentarily hyped up bold faith followed by an event that causes a downhill slide into a clump of reduced faith & self-doubt. I've learned that even the most experienced warrior would encounter situations like these throughout his/her lifetime, what more normal folks.
If we look at the passage above, we see Job and his heartfelt plea. What's interesting is that this 1 verse is actually a plea of a grieving man to have God end it all because of the pain and misery encountered. The continuing verse goes to state what was his request to God : "that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off!"
I may not have yearned for God to crush me, but just last weekend, I muttered with a similiar perspective for God to just end things and let it be - rather than to have it ding-dong about with no respite in sight and massive uncertainities leading up to the date of departure-1 Dec 06. I may confess that these moments in life where we encounter such ups and downs coupled with ongoing work/studies issues really stretches one's faith and stress levels to the maximum.
Inspite of everything, like Job throughout his struggles, we must stand in firm resolution. That's when faith progresses from a mere hyped sensation towards a small but convicted belief. In the midst of self-doubts, questioning and stress, even with no sight of victory nearby, we must believe that God would grant us what we hoped for, and the matter prayed for must happen because the results will bring about God's glory and further the kingdom of God!
Like little baby steps, I had to mutter to myself constantly, "the purposes of God shall prevail and God would grant what I hope for". Thereafter to make even bolder step to prepare for the fulfilment of our prayers. (i.e Matthew to bring home the Skittles sweets needed for the trip's party, check and renew the passport...)
Amidst all these, of course, was the usual worries, fears and self doubts. Tapered to as little as possible because for once I understood that God is really the only reason why I could have hope in such an impossible situation. On my own, it was all a state of hopelessness, especially with each passing day, the trip looming and his expired passport still in his parent's possession.
Today, Friday, 1 December 10:15pm, I'll be meeting Matthew and the rest of the Mission trippers at the budget terminal because I'll be sending them off for what I truely believe to be an awesome life-changing trip. My heart rejoices in overwhelming joy and my face is glowing with victorious glee because on Wednesday night Matthew's father verbally consented to his going for the trip. It was an edgy night for him before the talk with his dad and details aside, the conclusion was a "Yes".
To God be the Glory!
Blessings,
M.
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:24)
Oh, that I might have my request,that God would grant what I hope for.
For the past 2 weeks, I had two prayers of my heart consume me. Everyday in the morning, while at work, before I sleep and yes, even when I'm lumbering to the toilet at 3am for toilet break, I'll mutter my prayers for the 2 matters.
The larger of the 2 issues that consumed my thoughts was for Matthew to get his parent's approval to go Cebu for the mission trip. His trip was conditional upon his passing his exams, which didn't materialised, to my greatest horror. Just when it seemed doomed, I chanced upon the verse in Proverbs that boldly proclaims "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails". It caused me to leap up in renewed hope as I started imagining in bold faith an upcoming victory in my prayer.
So I started going forth sharing with Matthew that in everything that was encountered, we will choose to believe that the fulfilment of the Mission trip will happen because simply, God's purposes will prevail! Boy was I hyped up and fired on to see how it would happened, especially since Matthew also undertook the task of fasting and making daily prayers for the trip's fulfilment.
Then, as per all dramatic moments required, Matthew drops a bombshell on Friday night to say that during his dinner with his father, the clear answer given to his punitive attempt to ask about the mission trip participation came back with a BIG FAT "No" answer. Needless to say, the walls of faith starts cracking up and I reiterated with reduced faith that "God's purposes shall prevail".
I'm not sure if you have ever encountered moments like this where there's an experience of momentarily hyped up bold faith followed by an event that causes a downhill slide into a clump of reduced faith & self-doubt. I've learned that even the most experienced warrior would encounter situations like these throughout his/her lifetime, what more normal folks.
If we look at the passage above, we see Job and his heartfelt plea. What's interesting is that this 1 verse is actually a plea of a grieving man to have God end it all because of the pain and misery encountered. The continuing verse goes to state what was his request to God : "that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off!"
I may not have yearned for God to crush me, but just last weekend, I muttered with a similiar perspective for God to just end things and let it be - rather than to have it ding-dong about with no respite in sight and massive uncertainities leading up to the date of departure-1 Dec 06. I may confess that these moments in life where we encounter such ups and downs coupled with ongoing work/studies issues really stretches one's faith and stress levels to the maximum.
Inspite of everything, like Job throughout his struggles, we must stand in firm resolution. That's when faith progresses from a mere hyped sensation towards a small but convicted belief. In the midst of self-doubts, questioning and stress, even with no sight of victory nearby, we must believe that God would grant us what we hoped for, and the matter prayed for must happen because the results will bring about God's glory and further the kingdom of God!
Like little baby steps, I had to mutter to myself constantly, "the purposes of God shall prevail and God would grant what I hope for". Thereafter to make even bolder step to prepare for the fulfilment of our prayers. (i.e Matthew to bring home the Skittles sweets needed for the trip's party, check and renew the passport...)
Amidst all these, of course, was the usual worries, fears and self doubts. Tapered to as little as possible because for once I understood that God is really the only reason why I could have hope in such an impossible situation. On my own, it was all a state of hopelessness, especially with each passing day, the trip looming and his expired passport still in his parent's possession.
Today, Friday, 1 December 10:15pm, I'll be meeting Matthew and the rest of the Mission trippers at the budget terminal because I'll be sending them off for what I truely believe to be an awesome life-changing trip. My heart rejoices in overwhelming joy and my face is glowing with victorious glee because on Wednesday night Matthew's father verbally consented to his going for the trip. It was an edgy night for him before the talk with his dad and details aside, the conclusion was a "Yes".
To God be the Glory!
Blessings,
M.
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:24)
