The most challenging place to be is to find yourself in a place you never thought you would end up and to feel helpless enough to get out of it. This post is dedicated to the #KeralaFloods that happened last month. As the victims continue to pick up the pieces that were left behind after the nightmare, there is one resounding question: what is next? Find out where you stand in God’s mind amidst all this chaos…

All of a sudden, your life has hit the brakes. You’re parked in life. You desperately want out but the scary thing is, you’re helpless in your situation.

3 words stay in your mind:

Is this it?

Of course, when one is hit with a sudden tragedy, there wouldn’t usually be a backup plan.

Beloved reader, you may or may not be a flood survivor but as you read this, some of you can relate to what I am saying.

You may be picking up the debris from the havoc that the devil has caused in your life. And it has left you with a serious doubt: Where is God in all this? Is this a punishment from Him? Or has He dismissed me?

God Has Not Forgotten You

Nor has He punished you. But it is during such circumstances, God is ever close to you. 

When Joshua and his amateur army of men were preparing for the clash with the titans, the Canaanites, to seize the land of Promise (read about it in my previous post, Joshua vs the Canaanites ), he undoubtedly must have felt this to be one of his loneliest periods:

• Moses, his mentor and predecessor had just died leaving him with an army of people – almost all of them thought this was a bad idea and had no hope of winning the battle.
• Till now, Joshua was always acting under the guidance of his mentor, Moses who had a close relationship with God.
• Now, with Moses gone, it was up to him to pick up where he’d left – a huge responsibility and an uncertain future ahead of him.

But it was at this juncture, the Lord of hosts, heeding his state of mind spoke to Joshua the words of encouragement which is given in the verses below: 

“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. ⁵ No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Joshua 1:2-8 (NKJV)

In short, He reminds him:

DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR I AM WITH YOU.

Today, the God of our ancestors speak the very same words to you. He is ever-present in your darkest and loneliest hour that you can reach out and touch Him. He is not far away from you but He is filling you with the grace you need to survive this momentary affliction. He is setting up a new way for you to lead you to your promised land.

When you might feel your situation has put you in a standstill know this that your life has not stopped but it continues persuading you to catch up and be brave to face it.

God has the last say in your life

The devil may have stolen bits and pieces off of it but it has no authority over your life, only God has. No matter how despicable you feel, God is in control. He wont let you be defeated.

Hence, during these adversities let your focus be on the Heavenly Father and not your problems.

Believe in the power of God during these times and you will be celebrating sooner. On the contrary, refusing to acknowledge God in adversities can cause you to lose sight and before you know it, you may tend to become bitter and sink into mire of negativity and bitterness.

It is during times like these, you truly learn the meaning of this verse:

Your scars are your victory stories

My mother always reminded me of a proverb she heard my grandmother often say:

Where there is a valley, there are always elevations.

Sometimes it takes valleys, downfalls and scars to become a remarkable testimony before others. Your scars and hard times teach you life lessons that your comfort zone never did.

So is this it?

Never. You’re just beginning you journey to victory. Stay put in God. He’s got you back!

I would like to also take this time to remember all the victims of the Kerala floods who have displayed courage and resilience despite the devastating floods. May God rebuild each and every homes and speedily recover them for a better Kerala. #RebuildKerala

God bless.