WHEN YOUR SEASON DAWNS

Pr. Geoffrey Kibombo

2 Kings 7:1 (NLT)

“Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver”

You may have promises or prophesies upon your life but none of them has come to fruition and you are wondering whether God has forgotten about you. When the circumstances of your life are viciously hard, unpleasant and sorrowful, do you ever find asking yourself whether God has forsaken you, or is angry with you? The answer is no. For God never forgets his children and his promises never fail (Joshua 21:45).

As a Christian you might have played your part, walked faithfully and, rightfully with God and done everything that needs to be done but your life situation isn’t that delightful.  As a result, you start to have questions in your life. And with every question that goes unanswered about delays and hard times in your life, it gives the devil a foothold in your heart. But delay is not denial and at the right time God will deal with you – your season, God’s timing. A number of God’s servants in the bible went through seasons of hardships and lack but in the end God was faithful till their fruition seasons. Let’s see what they did amidst their sorrowful situations to stay hopeful and faithful   

Finding Comfort in Distress

The bible tells of a man called Asaph, who worshiped God but questioned God when he saw the evil flourishing (Psalm 73). Asaph also had a lot of questions, doubts and pain but taught us how to conquer them and find comfort in times of distress (Psalm 77). He had promises upon his life and he even prayed for most of the powerful and great men in Israel. He questions God in Psalm 73:13 (GNT) “Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure and have not committed sin?”    

In other words he was asking if he had been born again for nothing. Am I sacrificing for nothing? Am I dedicated for nothing? Am I serving for nothing? Am I giving for nothing? Such are the questions believers have. Our service and trust in God is not for barter trade, however God is good to those who seek and serve Him. Sometimes when going through difficult times, people might ask you where your God is; but take courage and continue to serve and fellowship even when life is not rosy, and lack and struggle is the order of the day. With his soul crying and his mind cast in fear and doubt, Asaph looked beyond his sorrowful circumstances to the greatness of God and remembered his faithfulness and saving hand. He declares in Psalm 77:10-12 (NKJV)

And I said, “This is my anguish;
But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 I will remember the works of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
12 I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.

Some of you might be like Asaph right now - questioning God and his word. But just like Asaph, remember the years of the right hand Most High and all he has done for you, and allow his faithfulness and grace to fill you with comfort, peace and joy as you wait upon him to usher into your season – when you remember his goodness, you will be aware of his greatness

Don’t Stagger; Stay the Path

Luke 1:5-7(NKJV)  

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

Zacharias was a servant of God and he continued in his duties but was grieved since he had no child in his household. Despite of his situation, he made himself available for the work of God nonetheless. He was probably asked challenging questions about his life or where his God was. Zachariah kept the faith, stayed the path of Salvation and continued to serve, and while he was in the sanctuary serving, the angel of the Lord appeared to him with good news.  Luke 1:11-14 (NLT) says; 

While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,

If you are going through a similar situation; this is an encouragement for you to take courage and not get distracted from ministry. Continue in the work you have been called to do and at the right time God will meet you and cloth you with joy and gladness. Pray continuously and serve relentlessly

It’s Always Darker Before Dawn

Job 14:7-9 (HCSB)

“There is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its shoots will not die. 8 If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump starts to die in the soil, 9 the smell of water makes it thrive and produce twigs like a sapling.”

Another man who waited upon God was Job. The bible says there was no man like him. Amidst all the suffering and pain and grief, job kept the faith – pain and grief should never replace your belief and faith in God (Job 1:20) and during lack and hard times, ask God to give the grace to affirm his sovereignty (Psalm 63:3). And when you stay the path, God will restore all and wipe away your tears (Job 42)

If your situation seems grim, but you still have hope in the Lord, and his word is cast into good soil (heart) and watered with faith, then one day it will sprout and bear fruit. If you have waited upon God and still have the promises upon your life, remain hopeful because God’s word always comes to pass. The Jews faced such a situation, they received a word from the servant of God - Elisha and were ushered into a new season of abundance. 2 Kings 7:16 (NKJV) says;

“Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.

There are situations that surround you and you feel like there is no way out, but you are not the first to go through this. There have been others before you. So do not lose hope. If you are still standing and as God lives, a time will come when the tree stump that had dried will sprout again.

The message from God in the scripture above came at a time when Israel was faced with famine and the Jews resorted to eating dove’s dung because there was no hope left for them yet had many promises upon their lives (Exodus 23). The bible encourages us that amidst famine we shall be fed by God. The Israelites had promises to have a good life. The bible says in Psalms 103:5 (KJV) that;

“God satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.”

The Israelites had all these promises but a time came when they had lost all hope as if they had no covenant upon their lives. Even though such challenges happen to us, and we have not seen God’s promises come to pass in our lives, Elisha’s message is an encouragement to us as well, that at the right time God will save us and wipe away all our tears.

Israel came to a point when they had no food but they waited upon God for provision. In present day this scripture would mean that you may not have the ability today but a time will come, when you will afford what you could not afford before – a new season. Every time you patiently and faithfully wait upon God, he transforms the situation and wipes away your tears. And that is why you should have faith in God, His word and servants.

Hope in a Hopeless Situation

What Elisha calls tomorrow is the dawn of a new season of abundance and entering into God’s promises. Even though there was widespread famine in all of Judea, take note that Elisha is not talking about abundance of food in all of Judea but those Samaria - meaning he was speaking to a particular type of people – those in the right place. And those that believe and have faith in God and his servants. Not like one of the king’s servants who doubted the possibility of what had been spoken (2 Kings 7:2) and indeed he never lived to enjoy the abundance (2 Kings 7:17). So if you believe and have faith in His word, God will raise the standard, and transform the situation

Continue to wait patiently on God and tomorrow what you desire will be affordable. But keep in mind that this will happen only at the gates of those that wait upon God. There are people that God does such things for - his children, so just wait patiently on him and have faith in his word.

Lepers for Liberation

God used an amazing way to ensure that his word, as delivered to the Israelites comes to pass. We see how this happens with the lepers when you read further (2 Kings 7:3-10). Leprosy was a curse in Israel (Leviticus 13). It was like sin and all who had leprosy were given bells such that when the bell rung it was a signal that there was a leaper in that path and you would need to use a different road. Lepers in Israel were seen as outcasts but God used them to bring forth his word. 

There is a time for eating pigeon droppings, but when that time elapses, a new season dawns when you have variety to choose from. Even through hard times, just keep your eyes on Jesus, don't let your belief and faith be contaminated by lack. Let not the devil discourage and distract you. Remember there is still hope for the tree even though the tree stump seems dry but as long as there is water in the soil, it will sprout and bear fruit.

When your season of abundance and blessings dawns, you will be like those who dream. When God returned the captivity of Zion, the bible says in Psalm 126:1-2 (ESV) that;

“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and tongue with shouts of joy”

Whatever word comes from the mouth of God accomplishes the Maker's desire and purpose (Isaiah 55:10-11). Do not lose faith in the word of God. So take courage, for no situation is permanent – seasons come and go, so take heart and let your hands be strong until God deals with you (Ezekiel 22:14). God can use a way that you have never thought of to fulfill his word - He works in many ways that we cannot fathom. Be hopeful, believe God and his word, and have faith in his servants. Stay the path and at the right time God will turn your mourning into joy. For a day will dawn when God will usher you into a season of joy, abundance and blessings