The Win is in Your When
How to be victorious while waiting.
“If you knew that the thing you want most in life was just ten days away, but to access it you had to go to prison and possibly die, would you faithfully wait for it? ”
What are you waiting for in life? And when do you expect to receive it? These aren't trick questions but legitimate things we ponder on a daily basis. And if you are anything like me, you are primarily concerned with the "when". Revelation 2:10 tells us, "do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer." It warns that the devil will put some in prison, and they will suffer for ten days.
“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”
Revelation 2: 10 -11
Now, if we know that through Jesus the devil is defeated, then who are we fighting? I would argue that the battle is not against the devil during your trial but the flesh and mind. It is a test of faith. The next scripture urges them to "Be faithful" even to the point of death. If you knew that the thing you want most in life was just ten days away, but to access it you had to go to prison and possibly die, would you faithfully wait for it? I've never been to prison, but I imagine that even if world peace were on the other side of that ten days they would be filled with anxiety, paranoia, and fear. These feelings are likely to arise, not because I doubt what God has promised, but because of the many things that could happen between day one and day ten, including my death.
Scripture calls us to be faithful under such trials. For many of us, exercising faith looks like waiting on God to deliver us from prison, the very trial he warned us would come. But I'd argue that our faithfulness comes by trusting that what God has said will come to pass despite the presence of the trial. The commands of Revelation 2: 10 -11 are clear, "Do not be afraid...", "Be faithful ...". Victory does not come through surviving anxiety, doubt, and fear but by faith in God and obeying what he has commanded of us.
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
So as we look forward to this New Year and the inevitable trials that will come, I present a challenge to praise Him while you're still in chains, worship Him during your trial, and trust Him in your valley. And when our God, Jehovah Adonai, says when we will win the victory. You will get your victor’s crown.