PRECIOUS COMES OUT OF PRESSURE
14 SO ABRAHAM ROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND TOOK BREAD AND A SKIN OF WATER; AND PUTTING IT ON HER SHOULDER, HE GAVE IT AND THE BOY TO HAGAR, AND SENT HER AWAY. THEN SHE DEPARTED AND WANDERED IN THE WILDERNESS OF BEERSHEBA.
15 AND THE WATER IN THE SKIN WAS USED UP, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs.
16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “LET ME NOT SEE THE DEATH OF THE BOY.” SO SHE SAT OPPOSITE HIM, AND LIFTED HER VOICE AND WEPT.
17 AND GOD HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LAD. THEN THE ANGEL OF GOD CALLED TO HAGAR OUT OF HEAVEN, and said to her, “WHAT AILS YOU, HAGAR? FEAR NOT, FOR GOD HAS HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LAD WHERE HE IS.
18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”
19 THEN GOD OPENED HER EYES, AND SHE SAW A WELL OF WATER. AND SHE WENT AND FILLED THE SKIN WITH WATER, AND GAVE THE LAD A DRINK.
Genesis 21:14-19 (NKJV)
Vision which is the set plan of God for an individual is often discovered in the time of pressure. Most people who have ever encountered God, did in the time of trials.
The Lord opened the eyes of Hagar to see the well of water that she could not see before (Genesis 21:19).
Usually, if an eagle wanted the young eaglets to fly, their nest would be stirred. God will stir your nest for you to fly. The stirring of a nest could mean a discomfort; that is a challenge or a problem!
• Moses had an encounter in the desert under the scorching Sun:
1 NOW MOSES WAS TENDING THE FLOCK OF JETHRO HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, THE PRIEST OF MIDIAN. AND HE LED THE FLOCK TO THE BACK OF THE DESERT, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
2 AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM IN A FLAME OF FIRE FROM THE MIDST OF A BUSH. SO HE LOOKED, AND BEHOLD, THE BUSH WAS BURNING WITH FIRE, BUT THE BUSH WAS NOT CONSUMED.
3 Then Moses said, “I WILL NOW TURN ASIDE AND SEE THIS GREAT SIGHT, WHY THE BUSH DOES NOT BURN.”
10 "COME NOW, THEREFORE, AND I SEND YOU TO PHARAOH THAT YOU MAY BRING MY PEOPLE, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT."
Exodus 3:1-3,10 (NKJV)
• Gideon also had an encounter when they, the Israelites, were under great sufferings; being tormented by the Midianites:
11 NOW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME AND SAT UNDER THE TEREBINTH TREE WHICH WAS IN OPRAH, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, WHILE HIS SON GIDEON THRESHED WHEAT IN THE WINEPRESS, IN ORDER TO HIDE IT FROM THE MIDIANITES.
12 AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour!” (Judges 6:11-12).
• Abraham also did have an encounter in the heat of the day: "THEN THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM [Abraham] by the terebinth trees of Mamre, AS HE WAS SITTING IN THE TENT DOOR IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY" (Genesis 18:1).
Challenges of life had a mission, in the life of the believer who might be in it; the main mission of such challenges is to give you directions. In other words, a challenge or problem could be a tool for guidance or direction.
When you are able to see how something could be made better, that is a vision.
When a problem emerges, you would want to sit down and pray to know what to do—how to proffer a solution to what is happening. Thus, when challenges come, it is not the time to be fretful and complain; rather, It is the time to seek God's face, to know how to offer solutions.
When you are under any pressure, pray, meditate, and open up your heart to receive directions from God.
Note:
• If God has permitted any problem, it means He wanted you to change.
• If you actually wanted to move forward, you want a progress in whatever area of your life, then the heat is inevitable.
• Mostly, if you have been anticipating and praying for a change, what usually happens first is the blowing of a wind.
When a wind started blowing, it means a change is about to take place. Now, what does the blowing of a wind mean? It means a brewing problem. In other words, an answer to a prayer comes in the form of a disguised problem!
Usually, a sudden difficulty that emerges after a long period of fasting and praying, with a consistent sowing, is a wind of change. So you would need to cooperate with God when such a wind started blowing!
The truth about the wind of change:
• There is a blessing in the blowing of a wind—a brewing problem.
• God does come with a sign usually. It is the wind, the disguised problem, that would bring the change you desire.
• Do not be rigid and myopic, flow with the wind that you might be blessed.
• Locate the direction of the wind, key into it, and glide as it blows.
Do not argue with God!
• The blowing of a wind symbolizes the dawn of a new day.
• Pray that God would open your eyes to see whatever He may want you to see in the brewing problem, that is, in the blowing wind.
If you have been waiting on God for a change in certain areas of your life, then, you should expect a wind of change in such an area: ministry, career, marriage, your finances, or whatever.
You will not fail in Jesus' name. Peace!