2 kings 7:1, 2

“Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be? And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

Some situations in life can be very oppressive to a point that we sometimes tend to agree and identify with the same problem. It could be chronic sickness; a huge debt or hefty bill; object poverty; drug addiction; abusive relationships; these are just but a few of the examples that come to mind at the moment. No matter what it is there comes a point in the day that as a servant of God I want to bring to your attention that God is doing something new in your life today if you believe with me.

Today I want to speak to you, who are at the lowest point in your life, where everything you stand for is at stake, your reputation and your good name are all being put into question and you don’t know where to turn, everywhere you are surrounded with people who are watching and questioning your ability to make decisions. You lack the strength, you’ve exhausted all your means, you have done all that you could to change the situations and no good results are forthcoming, you are the right person I am speaking to this moment.

When I write this devotional, I can assure you that I know what I am talking about. On the 1^st July 2010 my father rested to be with the Lord while he was undergoing treatment for prostrate cancer and hypertension. By the time rested, there was a huge medical bill to be settled before we could even think of burial. All my siblings and relatives were all looking up to me to pay. The hospital bill was amounting to approximately $ 5,000.00 or Kshs 400,000.00 and there was nobody in the family who was willing to part with their good money towards this cause and even those who wanted too were persuaded not to.

Some people were eagerly looking forward to my father being interned by the city council of Nairobi or the Kenyatta National Hospital because they could not fathom where such money could be raised from short of selling all the land the family lives on. The rumor mill had it that since I could not raise the required amount I would request for an autopsy report and leave the body to the hospital. This and much more was talked about; some neighbors actually suggested that I let state to bury my dad (can you imagine). This is the kind of dilemma I am talking about when I say that some situations might blind all you common sense and rational thinking.

While all this was happening I kept asking God for His will to be done because I had reached the end of my wits as a person as I was grieving for my father, we were very close. I read the Bible and I came to this passage, and all of a sudden something snapped in my mind. A new light shone and my fears subsided tremendously,  Elisha, the servant of God spoke into my situation exactly, people had predicted how impossible it would be for me to bury my father at home, they were looking at the figure I was required to pay first. The question that came to my mind was, do I agree with them or do I agree with the Word of God through His prophet?

I chose to believe the word of God through His prophet and through all true brethren who stood with me during this period by their never-ceasing prayer unto God that He intervene and do something in the situation(s), both locally and internationally. These very dear brethren have been such a support and encouragement since my father was admitted in hospital in April, wherever you all are, may God remember you in the day of His remembrance. The lord took over all the arrangements, He so powerfully moved His people and they started calling condoling me and sending their money towards clearing of the bill and funeral. I am talking about a span of two days when I didn’t know what to do. The word of God came to me that despite the prevailing circumstances He will show Himself faithful and mighty.

I am using this devotional as a personal testimony and a real life lesson to those brethren that are going through difficult situations and expecting so much from God when nothing is evident and your situation is deteriorating before your very eyes; you are at point of saying ‘does God really care that I am going through so much? My answer and encouragement to you is that He cares enough to tell you that He has everything in control. Do you believe that? You don’t have a choice, the people of Samaria were besieged by the Syrian army, there was no food in the city, and people had turned into cannibals.

What other situation could be as bad as this? Normally we all have our limits, a breaking point, no human being is elastic and even elastics have a limit too, they break. Whatever situation you you’re going through today I want to assure that faith in the Word of God and not human rationalization could take you through everything and you emerge as a conqueror in Christ Jesus. I took this Word, personalized it and God saw me through all the shame that is associated abandoning loved ones in the mortuary. My father was buried with all the respect he deserved, God mobilized His people, small and big, rich and not so rich; I was consulted when almost half of the money required was available, even the people who were speaking bad of the whole exercise were shamed into giving their money too, they were lest no choice because God had taken control, may God bless and forgive them.

The biggest challenge we have is unbelief, I remember one tycoon called me and gloated over my situation, saying that he could influence the hospital to release my father’s remains and we clear the bill later. I knew for sure that he had such influence but I had given this matter to God  and there was no way I would take it again and give to a mortal man who at the end of the day wanted something to boast about next time he held a public meeting. I am a servant of God and he is a politician, so I waited for the Lord to sort my issues, if He decided to let me fall into shame, then that was upon Him to decide and not me.

As I am writing this devotional, I am standing tall because my Lord and God took of the load that was weighing me down. By His help we were able to bury our dad on 13^th July 2010, far earlier than my detractors had planned for they had predicted and planned that it would take not less than a month to collect such money. Brethren, our God is a true supplier to all our needs, no matter what they are, when you believe He will meet them one by one.

The danger is in unbelief, the officer on whose hand the king leaned didn’t believe the word of the prophet and he was disqualified, removed from receiving any portion of the food that God was sending His people, he saw it and was trampled down before tasting it. What a horrible predicament. What is it that is holding you down that you can’t think straight? Today I am telling you that our God is ready to send His help your way if and when you believe. It might seem very hard, overwhelming and all, just focus your eyes above and let the Word of God minister to your heart for there is a relief coming your way, you will not have to struggle with it alone any more, Jesus is come so that you can have life and life in abundance. Those who have life don’t struggle with issues, but they let God deal for them. It is only with Jesus that there is fullness of joy, the world can never give everlasting joy and peace of the heart but the Word of God can.

The officer brought judgment upon himself by disputing the Word of God, many of us listen to the Word of God and we are tempted to ask, can He change even a terrible situation like mine, and a hopeless person like me? It is not about the size of your problem or situation it is about the Word of the most High God that is working in your life. The Word of God is quite simple but we like to complicate it with our reasoning and wisdom, people of God, I would like to ask you today to take this Word and obey. You too can just surrender what is ailing you to God and let Him minister to you and your situations and you will have a testimony, better than mine. Those who stood with me, I will say a simple prayer for you that may the love of God cover you wherever you go and whatever you do in your lives. God bless you in all that you endeavor to accomplish, let God prosper you. Amen.

This devotional was written by Bishop Joseph Koburu Mukiira of Maximum Victory and Joy Worship Centre Nairobi, Kenya and brought to you courtesy of Journey 2 Joy International Ministries Inc. USA

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