Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” emphasizing living with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
Scriptures for today:
(James 1:2-4 TPT)
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!
3 For you know that when your faith is tested, it stirs up power within you to endure all things.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
(Ecc 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.
(Read Gen 43:1-14)
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
Setting the Stage – from Genesis 43:1-14.
I have done a great deal of teaching on resting in God or resting in the promises of God. Let’s start with a short refresher on this:
— Divine rest is not avoiding work altogether but about doing what you must do without stress or worry.
— Divine rest is about having peace and confidence in the knowledge that, no matter what you are going through, God is still God, and everything is taken care of.
— Divine rest is an indication of true belief and faith. The highest form of faith is rest.
— It involves working (doing what you must do at the moment) with a sense of peace and confidence, knowing that all is well.
— The ultimate goal is achieving a state of inner tranquility that authenticates one’s belief and faith, regardless of external circumstances.
To be clear, this is NOT what Jacob did. Jacob was not resting in God at all. Let’s take a look at what Jacob did.
Chapter 42 ended with Jacob refusing to risk harm to Benjamin by sending him to Egypt. His decision meant that Simeon would remain hostage, and their time was limited. Sure enough, the famine got worse, and when the food they brought from Egypt ran out, Jacob said, “Go back to Egypt and get some more food.” But Judah said, “The man in charge warned us most emphatically, ‘You won’t so much as see my face if you don’t have your brother with you.’ Daddy, if you are ready to release Benjamin to us, we’ll go down and get more food. But if you’re not ready, we’re not going. What would be the use?‘” What a dilemma! Jacob was frustrated. He said, “Why are you making my life so difficult? Why did you ever tell the man you had another brother?” That was irrelevant at that point, but frustration will make you focus on things that cannot help.
Judah pushed his father, saying, “Let the boy go; I’ll take charge of him. Let us go and be on our way – if we don’t get going, we’re all going to starve to death – we and you and our children too! I’ll take full responsibility for his safety; it’s my life on the line for his. If I don’t bring him back safe and sound, I’m the guilty one; I’ll take all the blame. If we had gone ahead in the first place instead of procrastinating like this, we could have been there and back twice over.”
The criticality of the situation finally set in. Jacob realized that all their lives were in danger. Jacob gave in and said, “If it has to be, it has to be. Fine! But do this: stuff your packs with the finest products from the land you can find and take them to the man as gifts – some balm and honey, some spices and perfumes, some pistachios and almonds. And take plenty of money – pay back double what was returned to your sacks; that might have been a mistake. Take your brother and get going. Go back to the man.” Jacob finally seemed to come around. He was willing to use his resources (money was not the issue). What they needed was faith and food, and it seemed like they had neither.
Jacob said, “When you go in to see the governor, I pray that God All-Powerful will be good to you and that the governor will let your other brother and Benjamin come back home with you. If I must lose my children, I suppose I must.” I am going to focus in on that last statement today. It shows both faith and frustration.
1. We All Get Frustrated from Time to Time.
Jacob said, “When you go in to see the governor, I pray that God All-Powerful will be good to you and that the governor will let your other brother and Benjamin come back home with you. If I must lose my children, I suppose I must.” In one breath, Jacob prays that God All-Powerful will give them grace and favor, and then, in the next breath, he resigns to losing his children.
This reminds me of a statement made by a father in the New Testament. His son needed to be healed; Jesus told him, “Everything is possible for the person who believes,” and the father replied, “I believe! Help my unbelief.”
We have all been there. We all know what it is like to get frustrated and disillusioned with a situation that is taking longer than we want, costing us more than we want to spend, and is undoubtedly more complicated than we ever expected. Jacob is the father of the 12 tribes of Israel. The nation is named after him. He wrestled with an angel. He saw a ladder going up to heaven. The New Testament speaks highly of him. But in this text, in real life, he was frustrated. Listen, we all get there. You are not alone. Just relax. God saw Jacob through this and He will do the same for you! God is still God and greater is still coming for you!
How This Applies to You:
— Recognize that even spiritual giants experience frustration; it’s a normal part of the journey.
— Feeling frustrated from time to time is a part of life; what’s important is how you deal with it.
— Despite your frustration, keep your faith in God’s promises.
— Know that God understands your struggles and is with you.
— Keep believing that greater things are ahead despite your current frustrations.
— Take a moment to meditate on God’s promises so you can release the frustration and get back into FAITH!
2. You Must Resist Frustration While Waiting on the Promises of God.
I know what it is like to say:
— God, why is this taking so long?
— Why is this so hard?
— Why is this happening to me?
— Maybe I did not hear from God like I thought I did.
— Maybe it is not going to happen like I want it to happen.
— Maybe it is not going to happen at all!
Listen, frustration will make you focus on the wrong things. When you are focused on the wrong things, you will say the wrong words and perform the wrong actions.
You are not the only person who has struggled to operate in faith, who has wavered between faith and frustration, who has prayed in faith and then turned around and spoke failure. This message helps you realize that even the Bible giants struggled between faith and frustration. But it does not mean that you cannot overcome it.
Jacob weathered this storm, and you can (and will) weather yours. Muster up the faith you have and apply your faith to your famine. Mustard seed faith can produce mountain-like results!
How This Applies to You:
— Keep your eyes on what God has promised, not the challenges.
— Speak faith-filled words, even when you feel frustrated.
— Choose faith over your emotions.
— Reflect on how God has helped you in the past.
— Maintain a positive outlook, knowing God is working behind the scenes.
3. You Must Learn to Rest and Trust in God.
One of the major themes in the story of Jacob is the struggle between taking matters into our own hands and trusting God’s provision/protection. Despite his moments of doubt and frustration, Jacob ultimately had to trust that God would provide for his family in the midst of a severe famine. This is a reminder that we, too, must rely on God’s provision even when circumstances seem grave.
Jacob’s initial reluctance to send Benjamin to Egypt shows his lack of trust in God’s provision and protection. It was only when he realized that their survival depended on this decision that he reluctantly agreed. He waited until he was between a rock and a hard place. He felt like he was forced into making a decision, which is why he fluctuated between faith and frustration. Jacob was not alone. Many Christians today struggle when faced with difficult situations, and they, too, fluctuate between trusting God and relying on their own plans.
Even in his frustration, Jacob finally acknowledged that, ultimately, their fate rested in God’s hands. We should come to that realization quicker!
How This Applies to You:
— Recognize that God is your provider and protector, even in the most challenging times.
— Trust that God’s plan for your life includes provision for your needs and protection from all harm.
— Surrender your fears and anxieties to God, knowing He will take care of you.
— Cultivate a habit of praying for God’s provision and guidance.
— Have faith that God will come through, even when the situation looks tragic.
One last point I want to make before I close is this: Walking out your purpose is not always easy.
— Understand that walking out your God-given purpose comes with challenges and obstacles. Think about what Joseph faced for 13 years and what Jacob faced in this situation.
— Embrace the process, knowing that each challenge is an opportunity for growth.
— Maintain your focus on the end goal (God’s purpose) despite temporary setbacks.
— Seek God’s strength and guidance continuously, as you cannot fulfill your purpose on your own.
— Celebrate small victories along the way, recognizing God’s hand in your progress.
— Rid your mind of any fantasy that tells you that God’s purpose is easy or simple. If you study the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Gideon, Peter, Paul, or any of the Bible greats, what you will discover is that their purpose unfolded in circumstances and situations that were hard, ugly, and challenging, and the situations did not expose how perfect these men were. No, it exposed how flawed they were, but God still chose to use them anyway!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I overcome fear, failure, and frustration with my faith.
I muster up the faith I have and apply my faith to my famine.
You know my heart, my frustrations, and my struggles, and You are with me through it all.
I now look past my past and move forward toward my future.
I speak in faith and declare that I overcome every frustration in my life.
My God is bigger than my issues, and I trust in Your perfect timing.
I maintain hope and confidence, knowing that greater things are ahead for me.
I surrender my plans to You, Father, and trust in Your divine purpose for my life.
I choose to stay positive and faithful, believing in Your promises.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME because I trust in Your promises and rely on Your strength to fulfill my purpose.
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
