I believe the most difficult time for people to deal with is the time between what they are believing God for and the time that we actually see it manifest in our lives. It is wonderful when things when we believe God and the MIRACLE manifest itself immediately, but I have found in my on life that it does not always happen right away. Why is that, honestly i don't know. There can be many reasons why things are sometimes delayed, usually due to issues that need to be resolved with the person and NOT GOD. God is always ready to give us the miracles we seek, but are we ready to receive them.
Below are 12 steps that I believe you can implement while waiting on your miracle. They were originally developed by me to minister to people who were going through life’s struggles (which would be almost everyone on the planet) and just needs some wisdom and motivation on how to get through their struggle. However, I believe that many of the basic principles listed here can also be applied as we stand in faith believing God for our miracle.
I pray that you will find hope and encouragement from these 12 steps, they were born out of some of the most difficult and trying years of my life, therefore they have been proven and are not just mere suggestions or theories. The steps will work if you work them. If these steps are a blessing to you, feel free to copy them and pass them on to others.
God Bless You,
Nahum **************************************************************************************************************************************
1. Understand That God Is In The Struggle With You. One of the biggest challenges you will face while going through a struggle is to find someone that can relate to what you are going through. Unfortunately, unless a person has been through what you are experiencing, most of the time they really will not fully understand the magnitude of your struggle. But the bible teaches us that we can take comfort in knowing that we have a high priest that understand all that we go through.
Scriptural Reference: “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses since he had the same temptations we do, though he never once gave way to them and sinned. So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.” Hebrews 4:15
2. Pray Don’t Worry. Worrying is the exact opposite of faith. Worry never changes anything, and is extremely unproductive. It will cause your mind to sink into a state of fear and depression that can be very difficult to get out of. Let God replace your Fear with Faith. Rather than worry, give the struggle to Jesus in Prayer. Pray about the issues and challenges confronting you in the struggle each day. Ask God to give you the power to change the things you can change and accept the things you have no control over. Oftentimes we do not fully understand how God will get us through our struggle, but if we trust him, he always will.
Scriptural Reference: “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.” Philippians 4:5-7
3. Spend Time In His Presence Of God Every Day. Sometimes our struggles can seem so overwhelming that doing even the simplest things, such as spending time with God can become a challenge. But in his presence, even the greatest of struggles seen insignificant. Daily Bible study, worship, meditation or prayers are the cornerstones of your deliverance. This is where you will draw your true strength from. As you allow yourself to commune and fellowship with God daily, He will give you a peace about the struggle that only he can impart and you will rest in knowing that he has everything under his sovereign control.
Scriptural Reference: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
4. Change Your Thinking. This is one of the most crucial steps. You must learn to get your mind off your struggle. Wrong thinking can drastically increase the your struggles and sorrow. It can also extend the amount of time spent in the struggle. While you may not be able to change your circumstances, you can change how you think or look at your problem. Don’t get caught up on the way things look in the natural. Ask God to show you the struggle through his eyes. You must began to train your mind to think only what God thinks. This can only come by spending time in his Word.
Scripture Reference: “Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.” Philippians 4:8 5. Change Your Speaking-Says What God Says. The bible says that the power of death and life or in your tongue, therefore you must be careful what you allow yourself to speak over your self. You must learn to control your words. You must begin to say what God says and the problem not what you think of feel in the natural or your flesh.
Scriptural Reference: Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. Matthew 21:21
6. Ask God To Use Your Struggle To Help You Grow In Life. Nothing just happens in the life of a believer. God never allows us to go through struggles without a reason. Even when the struggle may be self-imposed or the result of bad choices. If you take the struggle and learn from it, you can turn it into something positive. Don’t let your struggling be in vain. Use what you have been through to make you a stronger person in life. Struggles often come to in the natural, to teach us spiritual principles about ourselves and about God. While the struggle may not seem good at the time, when you understand its purpose, it will give you the strength to endure.
Scriptural Reference: “Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.” James 1:2-4
7. Don’t Focus On The Struggle, Focus On The Outcome. Too much time spent focusing on your problem(s) is futile and can even lead to depression. Behind every struggle is a lesson to be learned. Ask God to reveal the purpose of the struggle. What do I need to learn from this struggle, and how you can I use what I am going through to help and minister to others? Oftentimes your struggle is an indication of your ministry to others.
Scriptural Reference: “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.” Romans 8:28
8. Look For Strength From Within Yourself Not From Other People. While God oftentimes works through people to meet a need in our lives, too much dependence on people is a setup for disappointment. People wont always be there for you but the power of God; the Holy Spirit is within you to help you through life’s difficult times. Jesus said he would never leave you nor forsake you. You must learn to depend solely on him as your source, strength and guide.
Scripture Reference: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
9. Ask God To Give You Patience. God does not always solve our struggles over night. While most struggles only last for a season, there are those that last for extended periods of time, such as a chronic illness. When this happens you will need patience to endure what you may to go through. But rest assured God will bring you out of it if you stay focused on him and put your trust in him.
Scriptural Reference: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us-they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time.” Romans 5:3-4
10. Don’t Give Up-The tendency to quit is a major battle that most people have to deal with at some point in time. I encourage you to grab hold of a few scriptures that relate to what you are going through and quote them on a daily basis
Scriptural Reference: “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.” Revelations 2:26
11. Spend Time Doing Something For Others. Apart from daily fellowship with God, this is probably the most crucial step in helping you through your struggle. It will probably also be one of the most difficult because oftentimes when we are overwhelmed with our own problems we don’t feel like doing something for others. So you may have to push yourself initially, but it will help you to take your mind off your own problems and you will receive a sense of fulfillment that you never dreamed possible. When we help others God is obligated to help us.
Scriptural Reference: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people… " Galatians 6:10
12. Don’t Forget To Thank Him. When Jesus healed the ten leapers in the 17th Chapter of Luke, only one returned to give Jesus thanks for his healing. When you are delivered from your struggle, remember that it was God who brought you out.
Scriptural Reference: "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” James 1:7
Sample Prayer: Father I thank you for helping me make it through this difficult time. It was your strength and power that I relied on to see me through. I know that when the next struggle comes you will be there to guide me through. I love and need you always. Amen.