How to Receive God’s Promises

What does James 1 teach us about pursuing God in the middle of struggles?

GOD'S PROMISESGOD'S PLAN AND PURPOSEWHEN GOD SPEAKS

Mildred White

8/26/20263 min read

I have been posting Bible verses and encouraging words on Facebook for the I'm Set Apart page for about 11 months now, mostly about God’s promises to those who believe in Him - promises of His presence, peace, protection, and provision. And I keep wondering, how many people who saw the posts were able to receive and live God’s promises? What about me? Do I believe in His provision, protection, and promise to give me peace?

Last week, I shared that I am struggling emotionally and having thoughts of insignificance and doubt. I wanted God to change my situation at my workplace where I feel so out of place and like an outsider. I struggled for a long time. I did not have peace. I had to battle with feelings of inadequacy and rejection. I felt depressed. I reasoned and complained to God. I did everything to try to get out of my situation, but for some reason, He made me stay.

Until recently, I laid down my pride, I let go of my wants and my plans. And I let Him take the wheel because His thoughts are higher than my thoughts and His ways are higher than my ways. Isaiah 55:8-9

While I was creating the journal pages “God with Us,” I could feel the Lord tugging at my heart and the Spirit witnessing to me that God is truly with me. He knows my pain, but I must trust His process. And if I let Him finish His work in me, my training will be complete, and I will not lack anything.

I can still feel God’s presence, but I had no joy and peace; I was miserable, and I felt so defeated because -- I was rebelling against God. I was “kicking against the goads,” which is an ancient idiom meaning to hurt yourself by fighting against a power that is stronger than you.

Once I repented of my sin and submitted myself to the Lord, the depression went away, and I could feel joy again. There is an assurance that my heart is in the right place and He is pleased with me. I finally received His promises that were available even before, but I wasn’t ready for them.

It was pretty cool when the Lord confirmed this through two separate dreams. Just a few weeks ago, I dreamt that I was taking care of a baby. I don’t know whose it was, but I was responsible for taking care of her. And then at another instance, I dreamt about water that came into our house and flooded our bedroom. No one was hurt, but we got soaked. From my research, both baby and water in a dream could mean transformation, change, renewal and growth, fresh start, and new beginnings.

Now I have a firsthand experience of what brother James in the Bible meant when he said in James 1:2-8,

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

What are your struggles right now? Do you believe that God is with you even through trials? Can you feel God’s hand working in your life through pain? How can we pray for you?

Lord, I want to follow you. Forgive me if sometimes I doubt that your plans for me are good. I surrender to your will and your ways. Everything that you are doing in my life is for my good even when it hurts. Amen.