MOVING FORWARD â—½ ENCOURAGEMENT
In a Flash
by Pam Charro
Are you in a season of waiting for God to bring about change? Boy, can I relate!
Seven months may not seem like a long time to you, but they were very long for me because I had to face the oppression almost daily. Many of my friends and family members were also praying for me these past seven months. Throughout this time, I was able to connect with others who were also suffering with me, and I shared with them that I knew it would suddenly change, in the blink of an eye. And, praise God, it did!
How did I know it would? I'm not really 100% sure, but I did have past experiences where God had come through for me in a similar way. Scripture also supports that God often suddenly rescues us from oppression and suffering.
Isaiah 48:3 says,
"I have declared the former things from the beginning,
and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them;
I did them suddenly, and they came to pass."
In Acts 16:25-26, Paul and Silas were in prison when,
"suddenly there was a great earthquake,
the foundations of the prison were shaken,
and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened."
In Psalm 18, David wrote about God delighting in him and rescuing him from his foes, who were too strong for him. It seemed impossible during the oppression, but God showed up, and David was praising and dancing again.
There are so many other verses about God rescuing those he loves, often very suddenly.
If you're in the middle of a trial that seems to be lasting forever, something that seems hopeless, please know that it will pass. He sees you, he loves you, and he will come through for you again, just as he has before. Take heart that he is working in ways none of us can possibly know, and all of this pain will be in your rear view mirror at just the right time.
In a flash, it can all be different.
Hold on, beloved.