Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
The life of Joseph best illustrates the adage that
challenges are stepping stones. Every obstacle and limitation became the very
much needed stepping stones to his greatness. First, the jealousy displayed
against him by his brothers did not deter him from dreaming more dreams, from
obeying his father-Jacob when asked to take food to his brothers in the
wilderness and working towards the actualization of his dreams. Besides, the eventual sale of Joseph to the
Midianite traders and eventually Potiphar did not stop Joseph from becoming who
God purposed him to become. Not even prison in a foreign land stopped his
global leadership goal. All of the obstacles led him closer to the goal in
addition to giving him adequate preparation for global leadership.
For every challenge, God has a solution only if we
remember to call on Him to solve the problem. This is because God usually has a
prepared or should I say postpaid solutions. Take for instance the case of the
four horns that had scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem unchallenged for a
long time. I am quite sure that like you and I, the children of God wondered if
God had any plans to deliver them from such evil powers with the evil intent of
destruction. But God had His plan and timing to deliver His people from such
affliction. Beloved, a scattered people cannot plant, harvest and gather or
achieve any progress in life. Therefore their heads will always be bowed. The devil or the enemy's intent was to
prevent them from walking in the full plans and purposes of God for their lives
so that they would not achieve anything. Unknown to the Israelites and the enemy,
God was working out a great and total deliverance package. He had four
carpenters prepared that would not only terrify the four horns but would also
cast them out and end their evil reign and activities in the land of Israel,
Judah and Jerusalem.
Beloved, God in His infinite mercy gave diverse
principles and methodologies to problem solving in the Bible. That way, one is
not bound to a specific methodology. The first time the Israelites cried out
for potable water, the bark of a tree that Moses was instructed to cast into
the water by God healed the water and made it drinkable. At another time, there
was virtually no water. God instructed Moses to strike the rock. Water came
gushing out. Yet another time, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock.
Though Moses struck the rock because of his emotional state rather than speak
to the rock, water still gushed out for the people to drink. Moses however
suffered the consequences of acting contrary to God's instructions. In like
manner, God daily gives us strategies from His word and through other means of
speaking to us on how to handle challenges.
Primarily, it is best to start by waiting on God,
studying, meditating, praying and prophesying His words relating to the
situation that challenges us. In the midst of these, God releases the strategy
or He drops the solution on you. However, the word of God meditated, prayed and
prophesied is a tried and proven strategy for me. That is usually my start
point for addressing challenges and God in His infinite mercy has never failed
to respond to His word. You can do same and experience great successes as what
you presently consider challenges will become stepping stones in Jesus mighty
name. Shalom.
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