Liiiiiiiiiisten Linda…… when you are going through a SEASON of doubt, unanswered prayers, confusion, and questions….. it is so hard to hear someone say… “have you prayed?” “have you sought God?” “what are you going to do?” all of these are usually asked out of good intentions, however…. when you are going THROUGH something, it is so hard to hear these things over and over… and over! Sometimes you can pray till you are blue in your lips, and STILL not know what to do (this is part of the faith and trust process). And I want you to know… it’s okay, not many people like to talk about the times we don’t have all our ducks in a row…. but I PROMISE you every human that has walked this Earth has had questions on what’s next… We can even see this in the life of Jesus when He said even He doesn’t know the time of His next return (Matthew 24:36). There will simply be times in all of our lives that we are unsure of what to do and like the good intentions of the friends of Job, oftentimes, our friends begin asking us what we have done to deserve the unknown. This is one reason having a community of believers around you is necessary, because, depending on who you have around you can and will determine how long the unknown season will last. Do you have people in your life that will encourage you while you are down? Do you have friends that will tell you the truth IN LOVE and not gossip your life to the town? Do you have Christians who are ready to go into the battle with you and fight spiritually? Do you have people that when your faith is on its very last strand, they will stand in faith on your behalf? If not, I encourage you with everything in me to FIND THESE PEOPLE! These aren’t the only people you need to/can be around though, (because even Judas was needed for Jesus’ ministry to unfold.)

Okay, back on topic, the unknown seasons in life have the potential to leave you stranded for 40 years or they have the ability to provide the motivation that is needed for change to take place! As Pastor Darius Daniels said, “Frustration is sent to inform us that something is out of alignment”. Let me give you a practical application to this….

I was introducing my son to some new math, something he knew only enough about, to know how to get an answer… 10 divided by 2. He knew if he took 10 and divided that by 2… there would be 2 sets of 5, so he knew the answer, but he had no understanding of the formula behind it! So, as I taught him how the formula of division worked, we eventually got to a question that had a remainder in it. Because he knew the formula, he understood how to handle to problem!!! It threw him off for just a minute because it didn’t look the same as the last problems (with no remainders) but he knew the answer was right because he worked it out using the formula! I told him, “see, the reason this isn’t stumping you is because you went back to the basics and completed the problem using the correct formula!” As my husband and I always try to do, I used it as an opportunity for a life lesson as well. I then told him, there are formulas for everything in your life, and you will forever and always need to be taught, please do not ever think you are above being taught and don’t think because you have to go back to the basics that you will never get past problems!” And THAT my friends is what I want to relate to you right now! Go back to the basics. Even when you have tried everything you know to do, go back to the basics. Read scripture for an UNDERSTANDING (again), pray (again), fast (again), seek community (again), seek council (again)! Do whatever you are tired of doing, AGAIN! That is exactly what perseverance is! Go back to the basics and you WILL find that what seemed to be an impossible situation, has now become purposeful in your life! There is one thing you shouldn’t do.. and that is, to give up! I may not know you know you, but you are a brother or sister in Christ and I care too much about you to let you sit in what you are going through alone. Rise above it Giant… don’t let what seems to be bigger than you for a moment, make you small forever. The God of the universe, the creator of the universe has sent the Holy Spirit to Earth to live inside the body, that is you and me! The giant in you is bigger than the giant you are facing. Go back to the basics and fight your battle spiritually! Don’t. Get. Stuck.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for everything you have already done for us, thank you for your grace and your mercy, thank you for loving us through the unknown times in our lives, and thank you for using these times to draw us closer to you! God, I pray over every person that is reading this blog, that if they have a single unknown they are currently living out, that you would provide the strength to endure it! God, I ask that while we all go back to the basics and begin to focus more on your plan and not our own, that you would show us or remind us of our purpose! Rise up in us, so that we can allow you to fight our battles! Give us strength for the unknowns, we place our hope, love, and faith in Jesus. Amen.