It Isn't
    What It 
    Seems!  
 

We can have times when we feel there isn’t an answer, or there doesn’t appear to be much hope.  We don’t understand.  The future seems to be disappointing.  But God’s Spirit tells us it isn’t what it seems.  What you’re seeing doesn’t reflect in reality what is happening in the spiritual realm where you cannot see.  So don’t make your judgments based on what’s before you.  There is so much happening beneath the surface.  God is working it out.
I.    It Can Turn in Your Favor.
II.   The Days Ahead Are Good.
III.  The Need Will Be Filled. 
IV.  The Response Is Coming. 
V.   The Escape Is Before You.    

  Trust in
  Times of
  Trouble!

   One morning as I was beginning the day, a problem I was facing came rushing back into my mind and emotions.  You know how when that happens, it can stir you up and set things up for a bad day.  You’re tired of thinking about the problem, facing it, and trying to get an answer.

   Yet we know in those times we still must trust God.  So that morning as I was thinking of the problem, I said to myself, “Are you going to really trust God, or just fake it?”  I didn’t want to just say I was trusting Him and try to act as if I was trusting Him.  I wanted to REALLY trust Him.  Not fake it but get deep in my heart and make sure trust was there.

   One way you can do that is to begin to thank Him for what He’s doing.  Sure, you can’t see the answer in the midst of the events happening, but you can believe it’s there.  You can believe things are not what they seem to be.  God is working on the response.  So you show Him you trust Him.  You do that by thanking Him for what you know He’s doing, not what you see, but what you KNOW He’s doing.

   God tells us that’s what He wants from us.  In Psalm 50 He says, What I want from you is your true thanks; I want your promises fulfilled.  I want you to trust Me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give Me glory.  (Ref. Psalm 50:14, 15 TLB.)  He called it true thanks.  Not faking it but believing He is doing something in the times of trouble.  Another version calls it a “sacrifice of thanksgiving.”

   We call on Him in the day of trouble and He will deliver us and therefore He will be honored.  So that shows us what true thanks is.  I mean it’s great to thank God for what He has done afterwards.  Sure, it’s wonderful to give Him thanks after we have received His response and things are hunky-dory.  It’s easy.

   But what about the times He described in that verse.  He said, “I want you to trust Me in your times of trouble.  Not just afterwards, but come and sacrifice to Me.  Sacrifice your thanksgiving.”  Now, why does He call it a sacrifice?  Because we’re facing the times of trouble as He described.  We’re hurting.  We’re bothered.  Annoyed.  We have due dates to meet, answers to come up with, trials to face.  We have needs and pain and issues one after another.

   So sure during those times it’s a sacrifice to give thanksgiving to God.  Those are times of trouble.  But why did He say we must do this?  He said, “So I can rescue you and you can give Me honor.”  We have to believe as we offer up that sacrifice, He is sending the answer.  The response is coming.

   Hey, I know, that is tough stuff.  To offer up thanks to God when the trouble is right in front of you and you haven’t received any response.  But you must keep telling yourself, This isn’t what it seems.  My response is coming.  THAT is a sacrifice to God.  You’re showing you trust Him in the midst of it.

   As I said to myself that morning, Are you going to really trust God, or just fake it?  No we aren’t faking it; we are giving a sacrifice of trusting Him.  Listen, you may not feel it, but you’re not faking it.  From the depths of your spirit, you believe in and trust and thank God for what He is sending.

   God’s response is coming to you as you give thanks by faith.  He is sending what you need, but He wants to hear that sacrifice of thanks while it’s on the way.  You’re showing you believe He is responding and you will receive it.

   Here’s a way to think about giving thanks.  Imagine Satan’s forces coming against the forces of God to try to prevent what is being sent to you.  Now if you’re sitting there talking about doubt and discouragement, if you’re voicing that you don’t know if God heard you or if He is going to respond, those forces of God hear you say that.

   So do you want them to go away from the field of conflict and give into the forces of Satan?  That’s how you’re talking.  If you don’t, then you need to be offering up thanks to God.  That sacrifice has a beautiful aroma to Him.  It’s a sacrifice of thanksgiving going up to Him, and it’s filled by faith.  That is what God receives.  He takes that thanksgiving and empowers His forces to overcome the evil forces.  THAT’S when your response is manifested.  The breakthrough comes.  The good forces can get the response to you.

   So give thanks to God for what is coming!  His forces are at work for you.

Spiritual Powerline to say out loud:
“I GIVE THANKS TO GOD!”

Here is a powerful prayer to say out loud:

Lord, I really trust You!  So I’m giving You thanks for the answer I know You have already sent to me.  Now receive my sacrifice of thanksgiving.  By faith, I know You will rescue me and I will give You the glory.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

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