Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

Pastor Phil had a powerful word on Sunday during the prayer/worship time, and it got me thinking about how we all hope for things—a dream to come true, our health to improve, or to meet the right person. Even though we’ve been praying and holding onto God’s promises for a long time, it sometimes feels like nothing is happening. It seems as if God is not responding, and our prayers aren’t making a difference. However, we can’t see God at work behind the scenes. He not only hears our prayers, but He has also set miracles in motion.

The Psalmist said, “The moment you pray, the tide of the battle begins to turn.” Just because you don’t see anything happening doesn’t mean the answer is not coming. The people who see promises fulfilled and experience breakthroughs are the people who keep praying, keep believing, and keep standing in faith.

In 1st John, it says, “This is the confidence we have in God. If we ask anything according to His will, we know that He hears us.” Thoughts will tell you, “It’s not making a difference to pray. You’re wasting your time getting your hopes up, believing that you’ll get well. You saw the medical report. You’ll never break the addiction. You’ve had it so long.”

Don’t believe those thoughts. The moment you pray, the Creator of the universe goes to work. It may not happen on your timetable or how you thought, but He is a faithful God. What He promised you, He will bring to pass, and you may have been waiting for a long time, but down in your spirit, there has to be a resolve, a confidence that says, “I know the answer is on the way. I know the miracle is in motion. I’ve asked according to His will, and I know it’s just a matter of time before it shows up.”

Don’t talk yourself out of it. Don’t let delays, detours, or disappointments cause you to give up on what God has put in your heart. The healing is on route, the promotion is on the way, the breakthrough is on schedule, and the right person is headed your way.

In Daniel chapter 10, Daniel had been praying and fasting for a long time, asking God for help daily, but it didn’t seem to be doing any good. Nothing was changing. But one morning, while Daniel was by a river, he saw a vision. An angel appeared to him and said in verse 12, “Daniel, since the first day you began to pray, your request was heard in heaven. I was sent with the answer, but for 21 days, the Prince of Persia blocked me. Then Michael the Archangel came to help me break through the opposition.”

When Daniel prayed for the first time, God heard him. The first time he prayed, God sent an angel with the answer. Just like with Daniel, God started to change things in your favor the first time you prayed. He began to remove the wrong people, line up the right people, and arrange healing, good breaks, and favor. It’s right in front of you. So, what’s the delay? What’s taking so long? There are forces trying to prevent you from getting your healing, abundance, and freedom. But here’s the good news: the forces that are for you are greater than the forces that are against you. It took the angel 21 days to reach Daniel.

What you’re praying about may be taking a long time. You may not see any improvement and may think that it’s never going to happen. But get ready, because your 21st day is coming. The angel has already been dispatched. God has already sent the healing, the vindication, and the promotion. Right now, the angel is fighting through the forces of darkness. It’s just a matter of time before it shows up.

God has already set the time to turn things around. When you reach your 21st day, every force that’s been holding you back will be broken. It’s easy to accept defeat when you’ve struggled for a long time in a certain area, but that doesn’t mean you’re not meant to accomplish your dream. Whether it’s finding love, battling depression, or any other challenge, your past doesn’t determine your future. God is about to break those strongholds that have held you back for so long.

Just like God sent Michael to assist Daniel, God will send reinforcements to release what belongs to you. Suddenly, things will turn around. Suddenly, the depression will break. Suddenly, your business will take off. What happened? You have reached your 21st day. It’s closer than you think. You’re close to healing. You’re close to meeting the right person. You’re close to reaching a new level.

Don’t give up. It may take a long time, and you might not see the answer coming, but your 21st day could be this week or this month. What if you knew your 21st day was next Friday? You would quit worrying and start worshiping. You would quit being discouraged and start thanking God. “Lord, thank you that it’s on the way. Thank you for your goodness. Thank you for working in my life.”

David said each morning, “I bring my requests before God and wait expectantly.” He didn’t just pray and say, “Okay, I did my part.” He prayed and then waited with expectation. He went through the day looking for God’s goodness and favor and talking like it would happen. Not, “I’ll never defeat this giant. Look how big he is. He’s twice my size; I don’t have a chance.” David looked at Goliath and said, “This day, I will defeat you and feed your head to the birds of the air.”

He expected to receive God’s favor. He said, “I am confident that goodness and mercy accompany me wherever I go.” Essentially, he expressed, “I believe my breakthrough is imminent. I trust that divine help is on its way. I am certain that the positive forces supporting me are greater than the negative forces opposing me.”

Right now, as your faith is rising, strongholds are being broken. Promises are about to come true. Dreams are about to be fulfilled. Addictions, depression, and sicknesses are leaving. God will make things happen that you couldn’t make happen on your own. You might be thinking, “Jeff, this all sounds good and encouraging, but I don’t believe it will happen for me. I don’t believe anything can change just because I pray something.” If that’s how you feel, these words are not for you but for believers. They are for people who know that God is in control, that He has set the miracle into motion, that the angels are on the way, and that their 21st day is coming.

When God puts a promise in your heart, you may not know how it will happen, what route God will choose, or the exact timing, but it will happen. It’s not too late. You haven’t made too many mistakes. You haven’t missed too many opportunities. God put the promise in your heart. It has your name on it, and God doesn’t change His mind. He’s not moved by negative circumstances, how long it’s been, or who doesn’t like you. What has your name on it, God is going to bring to you.

The Psalmist said, “God has blessings stored up for the righteous.” There is healing with your name on it. There’s a baby, a spouse with your name on them. There is a business and abundance with your name on it. God is not obligated to bring to pass what we say, but He is obligated to bring to pass what He says.

God kept a promise to David hundreds of years after David had died. God could’ve thought, “He’s gone; he’ll never know.” But God is true to what He says. 305 years after David had died, one of his relatives was on the throne, not making good decisions, and God said, in effect, “I would’ve taken away the throne, but for David’s sake, I will not do it.” That’s how committed God is to what He promises.

Imagine what happens when God hears you praying, declaring, and thanking Him for the promises. I can imagine that’s when heaven comes to attention. That’s when God says to Michael, “Go down there and break through the forces of darkness. Give them what they’re praying about. They believe I will do what I promised”.

What God brings you may not be exactly what you thought, the way you thought, but I can tell you firsthand that what God has in store will be bigger, better, and more rewarding than you ever imagined. Don’t put God in a box. You may not see how it can happen; the medical report is not good, and you don’t have the finances or connections, but God has ways to do it that you’ve never thought of.

David used a slingshot to defeat Goliath. He didn’t have the training, the experience, the equipment. But a slingshot with the favor of God is more powerful than a whole army without it. If you knew all the things that are in transit for you right now, all the things that not only have your name on them but are already on the way, you wouldn’t live worried or wondering if it’s going to happen.

Too often, we give up on what we believe in. In Luke 18, Jesus told His disciples a story to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes. That’s the key. It may be taking a long time, so keep praying. Behind the scenes, things are happening that you cannot see. That 21st day is on the way.

I came across a story about an American Indian tribe known for their rain dances. They had a reputation that whenever they danced, it would rain. When neighboring communities needed water, they would call on this specific tribe, and without fail, it would rain. A community leader asked the Indian chief, “How is it that every time you dance, it always rains?” The chief replied, “It’s very simple; we dance until it rains.”

And if you’re going to see everything God has in store for you, you have to pray until it rains. Believe until it rains. Expect until it rains. Not begging God. Turn your prayer into praise. “Lord, thank you for making a way where I don’t see a way. Lord, thank you for bringing the right person. Thank you for increasing me so I can be a bigger blessing.” Praise in the scripture brought down the walls of Jericho. Praise opened prison doors of their own accord.

This is what Abraham did; he waited 20 years for the child God had promised him. The scripture says, “Abraham grew strong in faith, giving praise to God.” How did he wait 20 years? He kept thanking God. “Lord, thank you that my baby’s on the way. Thank you for being faithful to what you promised.” Finally, little Isaac showed up, the promised child, and like Abraham, many of you have done this. You’re constantly thanking God; you live your life with faith and expectancy.

Today, God is saying to you, “You are close to seeing that promise. The angel is about to break through with the answer.” Don’t stop praising; don’t stop believing. What God put in your heart is in transit. It’s headed in your direction. It’s just a matter of time before it shows up. You’re going to see your healing, your promotion, your breakthrough, your victory.

God will open doors no man can shut and take you to the fullness of your destiny. Until that happens, keep praying and keep believing. I like to picture Abraham looking up at the stars while he awaited God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations. God told him, “I’ll make your descendants as many as the stars in the sky and give them all these lands.” God is true to His word and swears by His own name because no name is higher. I hope that speaks to you, and I pray you have a blessed day.