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Category: A Deeper Word

Published: Monday, 10 August 2009 22:31

Written by Mark Neddeau

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In Jonah Chapter 2 we find the story of Jonah and the great fish.  You find him fleeing from God and setting himself up to be judged.  In his mercy God prepared a fish to swallow Jonah and bring him to a face-to-face meeting with his creator.  If you are struggling in God right now, and feel that you are under the wrath of God, or that your prayers are not being readily answered, or that you have to press just to get into a prayerful state of mind, I want to discuss with you three of the possible reasons you will find yourself in the belly of struggle.

1) You may find yourself in the belly because of sin.  Perhaps there is something that you have not dealt with.  Perhaps there is something you are holding onto and not letting God have.  Be sure that your sin will find you out.  Aim higher, my friend.  Try to find a place where you can release all things to God.  No sin is worth an eternity in hell.  Let God redeem you through repentence.  Do what Jonah did and cry out to him and you will find him ready and able and willing!  No one needs be cut from his word and worth!

2) You may be in the belly to prove yourself to God.  There is no temptation come unto a man but such is common to man, but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able but will, with the temptation, also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it.  It could be, friend, that God just wants to see what your resolve is made of.  This is nothing new.  When Peter promised that he would die for Jesus, he was told what would happen and it did.  Peter failed through his flesh and pride.  Is God trying to knock your pride out?  Is God trying to show you how to be humble, and that YOU are not all that is important?  Trust in him and the power of his might.  Lean not unto thine own understanding, but in all thy ways acknowledge the Lord and he will direct your paths.  If this is the reason you are in the belly, you will not be there long.  But, you will also not succeed until you learn that which the Lord is teaching you.  But, when you do, you will be all the stronger for the experience.

 3) You may be in the belly to Prove God to others.  Jonah, Joseph, Job, all three of these men were tested and tried and only so to prove the great and powerful hand of the Lord.  Maybe it is that your trial is for the benefit of others.  Maybe you are being used to show how weak flesh is delivered by a powerful spirit.  How would it be if we could do everything ourselves?  Don't you believe that God needs to do some things, and that those things are they which are beyond our power to affect?  I have seen many miraculous answers to prayer in my life, and ALWAYS when I was most ineffective!  Let God deliver his power thru you and your suffering will be a blessing to others, which in turn will be a blessing to you!

Being in the belly of struggle and trial is not always a bad thing.  Try to discern why you are in the belly, and then cry out to and trust God to do that which seemeth right to HIM!

God Bless you,

Elder Mark Neddeau

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