All around me, the circumstances of my country are changing. Prices are going up, hard currency is rarely there in most ATMs and panic buys quite recently were the order of the day as ghastly flashbacks of the hunger and torment that was 2008 motivated many a buyer to stock up just in case. In this wave, I was not immune to fear, neither can I say it did not tempt me to attempt to panic-buy.
For it did; and as the fear clung to my heart like an intricately woven spider-web, I found myself thinking—if only I had never used that hard-cash some months ago; if only I had held on (I need to buy a car soon—and the dynamics of getting a new ex-Japanese car here simply requires hard cash at some point.) I found myself afraid; wondering what would happen if bank balances all of a sudden became void and my savings became null and void. I found myself not knowing what to do with each moment that came and not really knowing how to react amidst all the different voices I heard and continue to hear. And in that time, I must say despair very nearly became my disposition. I also found I could empathize more with those who lost savings, investments and money during that time—because really it did feel to me like my entire endeavour; the diligence to have a savings, the attempt at foresight to reach out for a larger and better goal would be brought to naught in one fell swoop and I would be left flustered, defeated and without hope after the impending doom.
That was about 2 weeks ago when I felt that way. Fast forward to today, and the situation around me has not changed; if anything it may have deteriorated slightly with fewer fuel stations accepting electronic means of purchase now. But my heart is at rest; I am at peace; and I am looking forward to tomorrow with hope; with the expectation to prosper even more and to see my dreams and hopes fulfilled. Between now and then, I have awakened to a reality that I hope you too my friend will awaken too; and that I hope that to you too it will give hope and strength.
And that is this; God is my source, and He and His Word is eternal; whereas circumstances shift and change. When God spoke, and said He will be my provider, that is a declaration of who He is to me-independent of where, or when I am. It describes who He is. So whether I had been an American, or an Israelite, or an Australian-that would not matter; my source still would be Him. Whether I am in the desert, or I am in the promised land—my source remains the same. And because He, the faultless one, who neither sleeps nor slumbers, nor grows weary, is my source, I can be unafraid in the face of the situation. Because God will be who He is to me; Father, provider, shield, protector and shield, regardless of the situation.
All of His promises, His assurances, His declaration to be my rock and my fortress-are independent of a circumstance. And if anything, it will be most evident when there is a crisis that it is He and not our circumstances who is our provider, protector and shield.
Therefore, even as we go into what maybe even a more difficult season, I want to encourage you today to shift your eyes from the waves around that are roaring, and look into the eyes of the Prince of Peace. He is not moved by the circumstance; He is not afraid of it; and you dear child of God as you lean on Him and let your requests known to Him, will see just how strong on your behalf the Lord will be in this season.
Remember, you are greatly loved, highly favoured and perfectly forgiven in Christ.