One thing about life is that it happens. Good things happen, and a seemingly bad thing can also happen. My father use to sing the song “Life is just a living,” while humming through his days. It is true that life is just a living, for living. That’s why the Bible says that the just shall live by faith, because inevitably we have to live.
As we face life, we will soon realize that life is not a bed of roses. The Bible puts it like this; “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.- John 16:33.” As Jesus spoke to His disciples, He admonished them to be prepared for the trials of life. Jesus also encouraged His disciples to be of good cheer, because He had already overcome the trials of the world. The good news for us is that whatever we go through, we can rise above, because our good Saviour is risen.
Who knows what can happen to us as we walk along our personal pathways. The thing that we fear with all our heart can eventually happen to us. We can be as careful as our abilities allow us, but the thing we are most careful about can really happen to us. That’s why it is better to be faithful than to be careful. In Fact the most careful that we can ever be is by being faithful.
Faithfulness is Carefulness
Though it is the wise thing, and the right thing to be faithful, faithfulness does not always shield us from our circumstances. Nonetheless, faith often proves herself worthy in the most bubbling of circumstances. I remember one time they stole my car. I was at work one night and about 1:00 am I went outside just to find that my car was gone. A month earlier I had decided that I’m going to buy myself a nice car. I bought the car, but somehow It never dawned on me that I should put full comprehensive coverage on it.
I was so careful with this car to the point I use to get up in the middle of the night just to check if it’s ok. I use to park in the most visible places, and I had become somewhat a 24 hour security. Amidst all of this, coupled with the fact that when my car was stolen, it was parked at the very back of my work place in a spot where it was very difficult to steal it, they were still able to steal the car anyways. Due to my lack of coverage, I was about to face the biggest lost of my life.
After I went outside and found out my car was not there, I started praying. I started to declare that my car come back because it is God’s possession. Long story short, after a week of waiting and praying, I got a call from the police that my car was found. I had given up on the car, trusting God that I will be restored even if I didn’t get it back. When the police called, they told me they found the car the very same night. When I say faithfulness is better than carefulness, this is what I mean. I was extremely careful with my car, but I wasn’t being faithful. Amidst all this carefulness, they were still able to rob me of my possession. In this situation, carefulness did not save me, faithfulness did.
Rising is your responsibility
A tank of fuel will remain passive in a car’s tank for as long as it can remain, unless the car performs its responsibility of driving. We can look at our own lives in the same way, that the word of encouragement is our fuel, and we are the engines that must respond to these words. I love to encourage others, and I often am encouraged, but unless we take responsibility and respond, then these encouraging words will remain stagnant and burn out.
It is your responsibility to rise. God has given you His word, He has put people around you to help you, He has given you a family and most importantly He is your living Hope. Now it is your turn to take the baton and run to your victory. Rising is not always apparent, but as long as you continue to walk by faith, faith always rises. As you face the tribulations of this life, be adamant to remain, and to trust God as He brings you through the valley of the shadow of death.
Life can be very difficult, but no amount of difficulty will rid us of this responsibility. Not only is it your responsibility, but it is also a responsible thing to rise. To rise is wise and the wise man does wise things.
Rising is the right and the wise thing to do
Rising is the wise thing to do. Rising is also your birthright. God did not make you to succumb to your circumstances, He made you to rise above them. In the book of Luke, Jesus said to His disciples, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” This qualifies you as victor over all your enemies. It doesn’t matter what type of enemy it is you face, or the direction it comes from, what matters is that you have the right to overcome them because It is your birthright. It is not you, but it’s the God that is ever present that qualifies you.
As the children of Israel wandered around Mount Seir, God said to them, “You have been going around this mountain for far too long, now go Northwards.” In other words, God was telling them that it was the right time for them to rise. Often life will keep us in a cycle of circumstances, yet we always have the power to rise above them. Ever so often, we become barricaded by walls of grief, yet no barrier can prevent the resurrection that wants to take us to our flight of victory. We have all that it takes, so all we have to do is take what we want.
Conclusion
Don’t give up. Consider the fact that God knew you before He made you, and that He has numbered all your days. He knew all the circumstances you would walk through, and He has also given you all the abilities you require to overcome these circumstances. Be encouraged! Life can sometimes bully you into believing you have been defeated, but you can never be defeated when you walk with God. Claim your victory, and rise!
