Hello Friend,

I really hope you are doing well. Last week we started a series titled ”Waiting” and today we continue with a focus on ENCOURAGEMENT.

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First and foremost, if you find yourself feeling discouraged by the wait for your love story to unfold, know that you are not alone. It’s natural to wonder, “Will this ever happen?” or “When will I find love?” Remember, God sees your heart; He is El-Roi (Genesis 17:13). He hears you and, most importantly, He understands your desires. You see, you do not desire a beautiful love story for yourself more than God. In fact, God Himself is Love, and He places the solitary in families (Psalm 68:6). Also, He said, none shall lack a mate (Isaiah 34:16). Remember, in the beginning, it was Him who said it was not good for man to be alone and brought Eve (Genesis 2:18)

When you receive a word of hope, it often brings excitement, and you might start counting down the days. However, as hours turn into days, and days into weeks or even months, it’s easy to succumb to weariness. This can lead to building emotional defences—like putting up walls or adopting a mindset of “if it happens, it happens” to avoid disappointment. But God is aware of these feelings too. His Word reminds us that hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12), yet He also reassures us that there is always hope ahead (Job 14:7-9).

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You can approach your season of waiting in several ways:

1. Be Honest (Psalm 51:6): Don’t hesitate to share your true desires with God. If you’re hoping for marriage, express that openly. It’s becoming common to suppress these desires, but before you start binding and casting, consider dividing them with God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12-13; Psalm 119:105). Not every desire is a sin or comes from the enemy. In Ezra 1:5, we learn that the Lord can stir our hearts and instil desires within us. He guides us toward His will (Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 107:7). Remember, there’s a reason for your feelings; it’s not just random thoughts or outside influences. Is there anything too wonderful for God? (Genesis 18:14).
2. Entrust Your Desires to God (Proverbs 19:21): Hand over your desires to God and let Him take the lead. Allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart and provide guidance in navigating your feelings. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Counsellor, Advocate, and Guide (John 14:16-27; Isaiah 30:21). You can’t fully live out God’s plan for you without His help.
3. Be Open to Learning: Stay teachable and flexible in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God can communicate in various ways, but sometimes we miss His messages because we expect something dramatic (1 Kings 19:9-13). At times, we’re so focused on our actions that we overlook what God is saying in the moment.
4. Maintain Expectation: Faith is active. When you start to feel weary, share that with Jesus. He often helps in ways you least expect.

In the NIV Application Bible, there’s a commentary on Ezra 4:4-5 that says, “Discouragement and fear are two of the greatest obstacles to completing God’s work. They often arise unexpectedly. Discouragement can drain our motivation, while fear can paralyse us from taking action. Recognise these barriers. Remember that God’s people have faced similar challenges throughout history and, with God’s guidance, have overcome them. By standing together with fellow believers, you can conquer fear and discouragement, fulfilling God’s will.”

Always remember, God loves you fiercely and has a plan for you. Don’t lose sight of His goodness just because things aren’t progressing as quickly as you’d like. God makes everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and the enemy is not stronger than Him; the enemy must bow before Him!

Excerpt from Be Still (Juanita Bynum from the Album a piece of my Passion)

You don’t have troubles; all you need is faith in God

You have troubles because you have forgotten I am God.

You carry false burdens because you have forgotten I am God.

He never changes, He still remains the same

What are you worried about?  What are you troubled about?

I am a doctor, have I ever lost a case?

I am a lawyer in the courtroom

I am a heart fixer and a mind regulator

I am your ministry; I am your source.

May His grace remind you that He is able. Take care!