Topic: Develop Resilience

Text: Exodus 15:24-27

Key verse:  So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink.

The wilderness is not a normal dwelling place; it is not natural for the wilderness to be comfortable. It is meant to be hot, dry and littered with things that can hurt you. It is not a place of sweet fellowship with others, because most people are in some form of discomfort or the other. The wilderness is not a place of abundance; you learn survival techniques in the wilderness.

Are you going through a period in your life that looks like this description, or even worse? I have a message for you, it won\’t last forever! The wilderness is not a place of fashion, stop wasting your emotional energy on what you will wear. God clothes the flowers in the field, trust him to cloth you with his glory.

The wilderness is not a five star hotel, where you are served different meals everyday and even a buffet for breakfast. Complaining about your food, what your children are eating etc is one of the ways we leak anointing and grace. What did Daniel and the Hebrew children eat in Babylon that made them look better and stand out smarter?

You see l learnt a lesson recently, complaining is sin, but there is a kind of complaining that is acceptable. Whenever there is discomfort the mouth is the first to express pain. So l know it is the natural thing to speak about your pain. First, you are a spirit living in a body, don\’t always allow the body represent you, especially your feelings. Let your renewed mind interpret the cause of the pain and then you will find the strength to endure hardness like a good soldier.

When our complaint is turned into a Lament, it always produces a good outcome.A lament is a kind of complaint channeled to God, it contains a request and a vow/promise of what you will do when the Lord answers you. The psalms are filled with several laments, read Lamentations 5 to see the difference between a complaint and a lament.

Israel was not able to enter and enjoy the Promised Land because they could not manage their pain and constantly complained about everything. God is always with us, even at the time of our difficulties. He always has a way of escape waiting beside the trial or source of pain. When you complain, it does not pass for a prayer, because you have no request.

Complaining releases a negative atmosphere around you and those with you, and instead of it providing relieve, it increases the tension and pressure around you. Learn to pray, ask for help even if it is under your breath. Moses cried to God for help, he knew that God was beautiful for all situations, he got results immediately because the solution was right there beside them .

God is faithful always, believe it! It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him.Expect series of tests in the wilderness, develop resilience! Be determined to pass every test. God is with you as you press towards the promise, you are not alone in this, the Holy Spirit is right there beside you. In the wilderness, He was the pillar of cloud by day, and pillar of fire by night. Today, he is living right inside you! Before you speak, check your grammar with the Holy Spirit!

You know how the story ended, the water was sweetened! Hallelujah! That marriage will be sweetened in Jesus name, amen! Hey! Don\’t check out, don\’t give up on your spouse, there is something you have not done. Send a lament to God, and expect instructions!

Blessings to you in Jesus name

Roses&Thorns