The Pain of Realignment

I was asking God why these operations were so painful? I had three biopsies, a partial hip replacement, and an enlarged lymph nodes removed. This is what Holy Spirit revealed to me about walking through this painful dark valley.

David ran from King Saul for over 10 years. In 1 Samuel 26, David spares King Saul’s life for a second time. In 1 Samuel 27:1, “Then David thought to himself, ‘One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul.’” David got discourage. He started living with the Philistines and fighting with them.

• Delayed fulfillment of a promise from God can cause you to seek shelter in the wrong place.

In chapter 29, the Philistines were going to fight Israel. The Philistine commanders did not trust David to fight against his people. This was actually God protecting David from taking a wrong path. David was willing to fight because he was loyal and had lost sight of God’s promise to make him king.

• Discouragement causes us not to see God’s hand on our life. It causes us to make our own path which could lead to destruction of our destiny. But God knows our heart and has plans to bring us back to the right path. God is the one who closed the door for David not to fight against Israel.

In chapter 30, David returns from the war back to Ziklag. He discovers that the Amalekites had raided them and taken captive the women and men left behind. All their possessions were destroyed by fire. David’s men were distressed and talking about stoning him.

• When you are on the wrong path it can open a door meant to destroy you. If you are not careful, your attitude will spread like a virus to those around you. All David’s men got discouraged.

Then David sought the Lord by asking Abiathar, the priest, if God wants them to pursue the enemies. In return, God told him to go pursue because he would succeed in taking back what was his. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken.

• In times of trouble, when we turn back to God, he is faithful to answer and direct us.

The battle of the Philistines against Israel resulted in King Saul’s death and the death of Saul’s sons. David becomes king over Judah not long afterwards. Then later, he becomes king over Israel.

Don’t Quit!

Many times, just before a breakthrough, we are hit hardest to quit. Dreams seem to die and there appears no way to win.

I asked God how to redeem all these surgeries and all the pain I have endured. I said, “Help Lord, I am shutting down.” The following is what I heard on how God is redeeming this time of pain.

• It is a time to allow others to step-up and stand-in-the-gap to help you (Ezekiel 22:30).
• It is a separation from the old direction to the new direction (Luke 5:4-7).
• A new desire for more and for the new is awakening. The old manna is no longer satisfying (Joshua 5:12).
• A path may be revealed that is different than what my connections are walking on. It is not that I won’t be connected to them, but my giftings are being used in other places (Luke 7:20).
• There will be new connections and friendships (Luke 7:20).
• Strongholds are being revealed in me that I couldn’t see before. I was told, by my counselor, that I didn’t trust doctors. When I asked God about it, he revealed I love my doctors that I have now, but it is the culture of the red tape of medicine that has tied their hands (2 Corinthians 10:1-6).
• There is a new dependency on God and not in my own strength, ability, or might (Zech. 4).
• It was a test not to complain and to ask for others to come strengthen me on this journey (Philippians 2:14).
• I had to seek God on how to recover all that the pain and the cancer was meant to destroy (Job 42).
• I had a change in attitude on sickness. Jesus healed everyone! This included people who didn’t even believe in him. Sickness is illegal (Revelation 12:11)!
• The muscle and tendons, which is where all my pain has been, have to do with movement. When the old is cut away, we have to learn to move in a new way. This can be very painful because how you walk has changed. Walking differently requires different muscles both physically and spiritually (Luke 4:5-7; Matthew 14:22-33)
• The new walk may require you to go a different path than those around you (Acts 15:36-41).
• Instead of judging others and their walk, a new understanding of grace is released. This release of grace unlocks the power of God to transform lives. (Acts 16:1-3).
• You will have new alignments and adjustments along the way (Matthew 4:19).
• Provision for your short comings will be provided for. I had to have a lift put in my shoe because my left leg is now ½ inch shorter than my right. This could mean, God will place people in your life where you don’t have the skills or knowledge required for the next promotion in your life (Exodus 17).
• God is cutting away the hidden cancers or diseases that created death and destruction. He sees our motives, attitudes, and traumas and knows how to remove the destructive ones so we can product God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (1 Corinthians 4:5).
• God refocuses us on his word and the blood of Jesus. Instead of letting distrust and fear dictate our decisions, he brings us to a kingdom view to see the whole picture (Revelation 12:11).
• New boundaries of expansion and limits will open doors and close other doors. This is for your protection to stay and operate where God’s authority has been given to you (Acts 12:26-28).
• A requirement for the right connections with others will cause some relationships to fall away but it will strengthen other ones. God will surround you with those whose gifts will help you and your gift will help them (Acts 15:36-41; Act 16:1-5).

I may not understand why I have to walk a path that is contrary to abundant life. That is ok not to understand. All we need to know is that God is good, and he works all things out for our good. When we have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death or deep darkness, it is a place that we walk through not live. The other side is a banquet table. You come out so strong that even your enemies can’t stop you from enjoying God’s provision!

Prayer

Father God,

I may not understand why I have to walk through these dark times, but I know you love me! I am choosing that you will work this out for my good. I am choosing to trust you. I expect you to redeem everything that the enemy has tried to take from me. I will praise you in this storm and expect to see your grace poured out to bring me into a victorious life. Because of Jesus and empowered by Holy Spirit, amen!

Scriptures: Psalms 23, 1 Samuel 27:1, 1 Samuel 30 – 31, 2 Samuel 2 – 4, Romans 8:28