When Claiming Promises Feel Impossible
I may be writing this to encourage myself, but maybe this is for you too. To the person waiting for change to happen, this is for you. To the person currently discouraged because what was promised has not yet been fulfilled, this is for you. To the person struggling to claim your promise and hold fast to Christ in faith, this is for you because I am all those things too. This is your encouragement.
I am a realist when it comes down to it. So claiming big promises from the Lord was always attached with, "But if that's not my reality, then God I know you can bring something else." While there is nothing wrong with that prayer, personally, I was recently convicted that those words had become a crutch to my faith.
That kind of prayer had evolved from words of faith into words that masked my distrust in the God of impossibilities whom I serve. I didn't want to be disappointed so I made that prayer my safety net. Being afraid to claim your promise is lacking faith in the God who fulfills it (Joshua 21:45).
The truth is, my reality is Jesus. When my reality is Him, then my reality is filled with immeasurably more than I could ask for (Ephesians 3:20), and yes that means even the impossible.
In all transparency, I do some times struggle to believe what I claimed to be mine in Jesus Name is mine, especially when all the odds of it being fulfilled are stacked against me. Nonetheless, as I write this I am speaking to existence God's promise over me even if I don't see certain things happening yet. I am calling my faith to arise, and I am aligning my focus to Jesus rather than what I want to see come to pass. I encourage you to do the same because, really, that promise is yours in Jesus Name. It may not look exactly how we envision it, but when it comes from God it's better than we could have ever imagined.
God fulfills His promises according to His will, not ours. Frankly, His will is always better. Always. His will for us is good and perfect (Romans 12:2), so instead of focusing on what has yet to come, focus on who already has: Jesus. He is our greatest promise fulfilled. Everything in this world is temporary, but Jesus is forever.
So, here are some things I do to encourage myself.
Recall God's goodness and faithfulness
It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when all you see are walls surrounding you with uncertainty, but remind yourself of the times that God came through and fulfilled His promise. Remember, God never changes (Hebrews 13:8) so if He did it for you then, He can do it for you now.
Align your focus
Stop looking for what's not there yet and see what God is doing now. God is always at work in our lives (Philippians 2:13). The waiting is a molding process and in that time God is preparing you to be ready for what He has for you.
Abide in God
All would mean nothing, if everything you do is outside of God. Apart from Him we cannot be fruitful in our lives (John 15:4) In the presence of God is the best place to be encouraged and it is the safest place to be reassured when discouraged.
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So I am speaking this over you as much as I am speaking this over myself if you're like me in the struggle—the promise God gave you, it's yours. Believe it and receive it in full faith. What God says is true and it is settled in heaven and it is so.
Prayer
Abba Father, anchor me to Your word. Help me to recount your goodness and your faithfulness when everything around me discourages me otherwise. I believe that Your word will never return to You without being fulfilled, so I stand in faith and I believe that Your promise is true. Let your will be done in my life. In Jesus Name, Amen.