Blessed Outside Of My Comfort Zone (part Two)

Blessed Outside Of My Comfort Zone (part Two)

Dear readers, I am always excited to sit down and write something all in the hope to encourage someone out there, but most importantly to give glory to God through testimonies of His grace and love.

This is the second part of the story that I started sharing about the hard times I went through when I lost my job. I had started asking God so many questions as to why He had allowed shame to befall me. I just couldn’t understand that even after all my prayers and my liberal heart and hand, I still couldn’t be helped out of that situation. I found the answer in the following scripture:

 ‘And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him’ John 9:1-3.

After thorough meditation on this scripture, I started changing my ways of thinking. I started studying the Bible with more comprehension. You see, before I understood certain things, I would always open my Bible hoping to find a scripture that will say things like ‘God is about to bless you’. But to my surprise, it was like God was just directing me to scriptures that talked about suffering, testing, temptations and persecutions. Sometimes I’d get really frustrated and close the Bible. But after I had read this scripture my eyes suddenly opened. I found myself enjoying stories about Job’s afflictions, David’s troubles, the Messiah Jesus’ suffering and a whole lot more. I came to understand that not every suffering we go through is caused by our disobedience. I learnt that God does allow trouble to come our way once in a while in order to test our faith in Him. I was getting excited, almost forgetting about my ordeal, though it was not easy because physical needs had to be met. But I discovered that my approach and ATTITUDE towards the situation changed completely. I stopped blaming people for not helping me out. I started thanking God for the glory that awaited me. I stopped asking questions like ‘God why me?’ I started praising God for He had trusted me enough to give me troubles knowing that I would overcome them.

However, the more I praised God, the more the devil stroke. My dear readers, it was problem after problem. Oh how wonderful God’s mercies are towards us! I became stronger by the day. I become a real lover of the Word of God. Because I was not working, I could spend about 3 hours just studying God’s word with joy in my heart. Revelations were pouring in my spirit like water from heaven. I remember waking up around 3am to read the Bible and pray till the breaking of the day. What I learnt during the periods of hardship, I could never have learnt them anywhere. I learnt to trust God for every little thing. Even to do my hair at the salon became a testimony and a reason to praise my God. Things that never mattered before, that seemed too normal, like buying a pair of shoes became so miraculous to me. I started celebrating any good thing I received. As I am writing this now, this same spirit has continued in me. I no longer take anything for granted. I celebrate God for anything good that I receive, no matter how small it is.

Time was moving fast. I stayed in this situation for 1 year and 4 months. I got to a point where I stopped asking God for a new job, but I was just thanking Him in advance. Then one day, a friend of mine proposed to me that I should take up a little job that he was offering me just to have something to do. At first, I ignored it because the job looked too degrading for me. I couldn’t imagine myself doing such a job. It was just too simple for me. I forgot about it for about two weeks before God scolded me with this scripture in Zechariah 4:10 ‘Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand’. I just knew that God was addressing me on this issue. So I decided to just go ahead and accept the offer. I started the same day. It was not easy for me. The salary I was being paid per month could not even last us for a week. But I decided to trust God. I remember clearly how one day, when I was at this place of work, the devil, through an inner voice mocked me by saying ‘Look at you. From the manager of a big Organization, you have been reduced to nothing. Is your God fair?’ I felt like crying. I ran to the toilets and shed tears like a baby. Then I comforted myself and said ‘all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. Though my beginning be small, yet my end shall be great’. I came out like a soldier that just triumphed over the enemy.

After that day, God gave me joy unspeakable. I started enjoying the little job I had, I started working like I was the most well paid person in the whole world. When my salary would be given to me at the end of the month, I would rejoice and praise my God so much. Paying tithe was always the first thing I would do. With the little I had, I always found a way to help others. Suddenly, everything just changed. My attitude towards the job changed. I was happy, relaxed and full of peace. My readers, there is nothing that the enemy hates than to see an afflicted believer full of joy! It just drives him crazy. Joy from God can never be compared to anything else. Isaiah said it well in chapter 12 verse 3 ‘Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation’ I really drew water out of the well of salvation through this joy. I was being blessed outside of my comfort zone……..

My dear readers, the story is not yet over. I must end here so as not to steal all your time. I will be back very soon with the continuation of the story. I just want you to know that no matter what you are going through, no matter the pains, God sees them all and He has a good plan for you. He will heal you, restore you and renew you. I leave you with this scripture:

‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early’ Psalm 46:1-5

God bless you all…….

Jennipher