YOU OFTEN go through unending challenges, and most things do not initially make sense.
However, there is no time you talk to God that he does not hear you. He sees your tears and listens to your words.
He saw Ishmael's tears when his mother ran out of water and left him under some bushes, not wanting to watch him die (Gen. 21:8-21).
He opened her eyes to see a well of water nearby.
God knows your preferences. He anticipates your needs.
THE MIDIANITES had dominated and oppressed Israel for seven years. They stole their food and resources (Judges 6-8).
They camped on their lands, destroyed their crops and left nothing, including their livestock. So, Israel made shelters in the mountains, hid in caves and built strongholds to be safe.
Then, Israel cried out to God.
Adversity is one time you need to cry out to God.
God knows your preferences. He anticipates your needs.
GOD heard their cries and sent them a prophet who told them what they had done wrong and what they needed to do.
They needed to see that repentance was a gift.
If you need anything in adversity, it's to hear God.
GOD sent an angel to Gideon at the winepress.
The angel said the Lord is with you, mighty warrior (Judges 6:12).
God is more concerned about your future than the present.
Repentance is a giftt
TO SURMOUNT your challenges, you must recognize that God is with you—and he's Emmanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23).
The fact that God is not obvious does not mean he's not present.
GIDEON REPLIED: But if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?'
But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into Midian's hand (Judges 6:13).
God's activities cannot be defined only by the presence or absence of wonders.
ADVERSITY does not indicate the absence of God; he is always present.
God was the fourth man in the fire when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:25-29).
He held back the waters when Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exod. 14:18-31).
He promised to be with you when you pass through the fire. When you walk through the waters, they'll not overflow you (Isaiah 43:2).
GOD told Gideon: I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.
Adversity is indicative of an impending season change.
GIDEON said, If I have found favour in your eyes, give me a sign that you are talking to me.
God does not have to give you a sign to trust him. His word is good enough.
Adversity helps you learn to trust Him.
VICTORY in Christ is not dependent on strength. It is dependent on God.
Gideon was set for battle, and God said there were too many men with him.
Israel will say my strength has saved me (Judges 7:2).
So, God instructed him to tell the ones that are fearful to leave.
With twenty thousand men left, God told him to take them to the water. The ones who lap as dogs do will go to battle (Judges 7:4).
Only three hundred remained after the exercise.
The men had to be truthful to themselves. Adversity is a test of integrity.
God caused the enemies to turn on each other with swords when the three hundred men blew the trumpet (Judges 7:22).
Final Thought
Many great things come from uncomfortable spaces.
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