You spent your whole life not only thinking that your situation could not change, but also that you yourself could not change. You feel hopeless because your family members, your friends, and every circumstance in your life keep reminding you that’s just who you are. If that is how you feel, you are not weird, and I know exactly what you mean. Please, let me be the one to tell you that even though these thoughts and feelings are real, God can still change you and bring you out.
I remember being in a state of mind where I would witness other people change, and their situations changed. However, I couldn’t see any progress within me or around me. I wanted to get rid of the patterns I have noticed in my bloodline. I was well aware of their ways and did not want to react to people and circumstances as they do. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help myself. I thought that I would forever be the same grumpy girl whose anger was often provoked in the dark but exposed in the light. I have also learned that those in your circle who are eager to point out your faults are usually the major culprits behind your downfall.
Unlike God, the enemy likes to mess with you in the dark so he can create an opportunity to expose you in the light. The enemy’s goal is to lead you to public shame so you can hide forever. However, God likes to remove your shackles in the dark so that He can reveal the new you in the light. That’s why Jesus says things like, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Another thing I’ve learned is that we were always taught to be strong men and women, not realizing that some battles are too strong for us and only God can help us with them.
The psalmist David says in Psalm 18:17, “He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.”
One thing we need to come to terms with is that difficulties in life are inevitable, and we are not promised a problem-free and hate-free life. Our challenge isn’t the presence of hardships in our lives, but the ability to see and discern the will of God during chaos. Now, let’s face it, we are more prone to make the right decisions when things are going well than when things are out of our hands. For example, when we experience betrayal or being backstabbed, we are more eager to defend ourselves and even try to prove to others that we are good people and not at fault, rather than taking the time to ask God for clarity about our issues. The truth is, if we need to become and accomplish anything great in life, we will always need vision, clarity, and discernment. And only God can give us these things. It is imperative to remember that as we move through life, we must be able to discern the wrong crowds and how to handle each situation that we are in. It is also important to consider that there are some issues we brought upon ourselves, while others are allowed by God to teach us something. However, we must not forget that some circumstances also come from the adversary to taunt our growth and to prevent us from becoming a better version of ourselves. What I have noticed, even in my own life, is that God will not change your life around unless He first changes your spiritual eyes. First of all, you cannot even change unless you can see God properly. Therefore, God will always cause you to have an “aha moment”. Amos 3:3 says, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” In other words, God knows that we can’t be on the same page with Him and discern what He is doing in our lives if we can’t see our situations properly. For instance, in 2 Kings 6:17, the Prophet Elisha prayed for God to open his servant’s eyes to see the spiritual army protecting them. And the moment God opened his eyes, everything changed. His ability to see caused him to posture himself differently for the fight. He went from being fearful to being fearless when he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Prophet Elisha.
It is easy for your friends, family, or those who are used to the old version of you to think they have one up on you based on your shackles or the bad behaviors that have kept you bound for years. However, they have no idea that there is a new you in the making, a new you they never saw coming. That is why it is important to team up with God in what He wants to do in your life. God will always bless you because He is a giver. His main goal is not just to bless you with fat cows and lead you to green pastures; His main goal is to have first place in your heart and to show others who you can become when He has your heart fully. If you really want to know how to shut the mouths of your lions, then team up with God and become the new you they never saw coming. You’ll be completely changed internally and externally. God will leave your enemies dumbfounded because He knows their evil thoughts toward you. You’ll be highly favored and prosperous in all that you do, and your enemies won’t be able to handle it. They will realize that after all the effort they’ve put into seeing you fail, all they see is you winning, and it’s too overwhelming for them. That is why we must collaborate with God.
And what does that look like?
A common analogy that can help explain how to collaborate with God in your becoming is to think about dealing with a broken tooth. It can be so painful that it prevents you from eating, drinking, sleeping, communicating, and even performing your daily activities. This may indicate that it’s time for a tooth extraction. If the dentist told you that to help you get back to your normal life, he would have to remove the broken tooth and fix your teeth as if nothing had happened. Wouldn’t you want to get rid of that tooth? You may ponder on the pain you’ll have to endure when the local anesthesia wears off, which will be for a moment. Nonetheless, there ought to be something in you that also causes you to think about the relief you will have once you get rid of that tooth. You’ll get your sleep back, enjoy your meals, socialize better, and function normally. Therefore, if you are tired of the pain from the broken tooth and compare the outcomes, you will definitely pick the option that is best for you, even if you must bleed a little. You will choose to remain still before your dentist and allow him to have fun in your mouth, even when you have no idea what is happening. You trust him enough to know that whatever he is doing will help you in the end, no matter how uncomfortable it may feel. You know that you will not die from the tooth extraction, but you will be able to smile and be happy again when the procedure is done. It is the same concept when God wants to bring the new version of you, evolved from the old one.
God will ask you to do certain things that don’t make sense and that are often uncomfortable. Your comeback is a vindication that speaks volumes. And a vindication speaks volumes when those who thought you could never change or amount to anything see a new version of you that they never saw coming.
You can never create more confusion in the enemy’s camp and the lives of those used by the enemy when you move differently than the way they are used to seeing you move.
When you remain at Jesus’ feet and allow Him to change you, that’s when you really become a threat to the kingdom of darkness.
We often think that it is when we become gang members or when we walk around with a mean face and all grumpy, that’s when we look dangerous. However, the truth is, we become really dangerous when the enemy can no longer control our moves, meaning our responses to the circumstances of life are no longer predictable to him.
For example, if you are someone who always responds with harsh words to your spouse and children, and you decide to act differently, meaning you are now responding with kindness, love, and patience, the enemy is confused. If you are used to yelling or cursing at others when you are upset, and you’ve decided to stop, the enemy is confused. If you go to the club every weekend and live a wild life, but you’ve decided to read your Bible instead, the enemy is now really confused. And he will use the people closer to you to reveal his confusion. He will send them to question your moves. He will even send your family members and friends to try to convince you that you are doing too much or that you are weird, and that something is wrong with you. And when you start hearing these things and perhaps noticing that their attitude toward you has changed, meaning they barely want to talk to you now, then you know that what they are really trying to say is “This is the you that we never saw coming.” This also means you are winning because God is changing and shaping you to His likeness. This is your sign not to look to your right or left, but straight ahead and stick to God’s plan!
Even you will be shocked at what God is doing in your life. And the more you continue to allow God to shape you into the new version of you, the more those around you will be amazed at the power of God in your life. This is where the real flex is: when you become unpredictable to the enemy.
The beauty of it all is that God never does something to accomplish just one thing. Everything He does is purposeful and has a ripple effect.
In other words, as you are changing, guess who else is exposed to change? Your enemies and frenemies. The same people the enemy is using to attack you are the same people who are exposed to God’s power through your deliverance.
It may seem as if God simply wanted to remove the anger or the cursing spirit out of you, and that God just wanted to set you free from that drug addiction and lust. The truth is, God is also using your healing to bring about a whole revival, starting with your family members and then others. As they watch you change, they are not only seeing God’s power manifesting in your life, but also seeing what is possible for them.
And remember, God always sees and does things beyond what we can comprehend.
Embrace your becoming!
SCRIPTURES
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
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