Take me Out!

A lot of people would question this title, ‘take me out!’

We all do this. Have you prayed to God to take you out of the problem instead of taking you through it? I know I have.

I understand if you have and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But I would love you to consider examples of people that discovered their true purpose while going through hardship.

Nelson Mandela fought for the freedom for his people which landed him in jail for 26 years. Whilst in jail in Johannesburg, he incited other prisoners with his message for agitation against the oppressive white rulers which prompted his transfer to Robben island.

On the island, he was separated from other prisoners (except the political ones) to curtail the spread of his message. He was put in solitary confinement on several occasions for flaunting certain prison laws.

Long and short of this story was that he suffered severely for his beliefs but my point is that, Mandela spent 27 years of his life incarcerated, during which he learnt an important life lesson that made him a hero not just to his people but to the entire world.

He was transformed from a man filled with hate, bitterness against the whites that controlled his land, resources and oppressed his people; into a man of tolerance.

He learnt an important lesson which became the hallmark of his presidency. His country prospered under his new ideology of tolerance which led to the establishment of theTruth & Reconciliation commission. This led to the healing of gaping wounds inflicted on his people under the apartheid era.

Mandela was also embraced by the world as a hero of freedom and human rights.

Can you for a second imagine if he was released immediately after his first arrest when he was still violent and bitter and soon after became President?

Rwanda’s genocide would have nothing on the racial blood letting that would have occurred in South Africa.

He went through a difficult time which changed and transformed him into a Hero celebrated by his countrymen and the rest of the world.

Moses, a Prince of Egypt. He was a proud and arrogant man who witness the killing of his countryman by the sword of an Egyptian he swiftly killed the Egyptian.

This same man was called the meekest man on earth by God but not after he also underwent a transformational process whilst in exile for 40 years. He lived with the High Priest of Midan, herding his sheep at the back side of the wilderness.

The bible says:

Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth - Numbers 12:3

John the Beloved had several attempts made on his life but he just won’t die. He was eventually banished to the Island of Patmos.

Most people will wail and complain that their life had come to an end if they were in John’s shoes, but not so for John - he wrote the most insightful and prophetic book in the bible - the book of Revelations.

We sometimes forget that this book wasn’t written while he was in the comfort of his home but while incarcerated in a remote island.

Adam, the first man, when he was created had everything he needed for life and godliness. He had a lovely accommodation, wealth beyond imagination he didn’t need to work for and daily visitation by the Most High Himself.

What happened? He still blew it.

When God sent Jesus to the world, He changed strategy. He didn’t send His son to a life of luxury and bliss as Adam, rather Jesus was born as a baby. Born in a manger amongst animals, a room that was probably rocking of sheep dung and urine. The bible had this to say:

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered. - Hebrews 5:8 (NIV)

Hear this:

There’s a process that is transformational, this process arms and equips one to fulfil their purpose here on earth.

If you skip these process and its life lessons, you would have shot yourself in the foot, hampered and even stunted your progress in life. This in turn will possibly hamper your ability to achieve your purpose.

The butterfly’s 🦋metamorphosis, requires that its caterpillar 🐛eats up itself after wrapping itself in a cocoon. After several days when it is fully formed as a butterfly, it cracks the cocoon and painfully exits.

The painful exit drains the liquid off its wings which enables it make its first flight.

Someone witnessed the struggle of the butterfly exiting its cocoon, and empathised with the beautiful insect. He then lent a ‘helping hand’ and cracked the cocoon so the majestic insect can come out without struggling. This ‘Good Samaritan’ feeling that he had done a good deed, observed the butterfly 🦋for a bit, and soon discovered that as the butterfly tried to fly, it couldn’t. Its wings, still laden with fluid was too heavy for him to make its first flight. The struggle to exit the cocoon was supposed to drain the fluid from its wings, but the Good Samaritan’s help meant that the insect skipped an important phase of its life and after several attempts to fly, it died.

So when you ask to get out of a problem, realise that, that problem or challenge might just be the process that you need for your empowerment, transformation and launching pad to your glorious future. The pain might just be what you need to rid yourself of imperfections, or even hone and sharpen your skills.

The process might also help reveal to you the true nature of those you call your friends and introduce to you the people you need for the next level God is ushering you into.

Usually, the process makes you realise the hidden virtues in you which equips you for your next level. The process might just be energising you to become a high flyer.

Final Word

Don’t confuse what am saying with satan’s attempt to stop you with temptations - satan kills, steals & destroys. The bible made it clear that:

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly - John 10:10

Whenever you sense these manifestations of satan around you, use your authority in Christ and put him in his place. The bible says count it all joy when we are faced with trials not temptations -

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. - James 1:2-3 (NKJV)

Life at times hands us trials, we need to train our human spirit to discern what is what, and not confuse temptations with trials. We shouldn’t also confuse satan’s attempt to stop us as life handing us trials to make us better equipped us for success.

Jesus promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us - Hebrews 13:5

God has promised that he will be with us when we go through trials - Isaiah 43:1-2, Psalms 23:4

He had deprived satan (trouble, tribulation & challenge) his power to harm you - John 16:33

He won’t let us experience what we cannot bear. I love this because it reassures me that anything that happens to me, I can bear it so I don’t cry and shout, “it’s too much for me to bear!” - 1 Corinthians 10:13

As you ponder on these, always bear in mind that you alone determines how long the challenge, trouble, problem and tribulation lasts by using your faith.

Change your paradigm and say, “LIFE HAPPENS FOR ME, NOT TO ME!”

Never forget that the challenge lasts as long as you are willing to use your faith to push through the ‘cocoon’ as you come out flying.

💗

See you at the top!

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John 16:33 (AMPC)

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]