“In times of difficulty you may feel that you problems will go on and on, but they won’t. Every mountain has a top. Every problem has a life span. The question is, who is going to give in first; the frustration or you?” by Reverend Robert Schuller
The book of Ecclesiastes says there is time for everything, time to be born and also time to die. It also implies that there is a time to start and time to end. The Psalmist says my times are in your hands, Oh Lord. As we read the stories of the great patriots of the scripture, the time came where they arrived on the scene or throne and the time they were dethroned or passed. They are two great times in the life of mankind, the time one is born and the time one dies. In these two times, one neither knows when birth nor death occurs. We have no control over these times.
“Many people fail in life not for lack of ability or brains or even courage but simply they have never organized their energies for a certain goal.” – Elbert Hubbard. Again some people do not plan to fail but simply fail to plan. They fail in understanding that life is a struggle; that we live on earth as foreigners and our life is just a hand breath. It could expire anytime even when we least expect it. Another adage says “We live life once but if we plan it well once is enough.” If we live life aimlessly and anyhow, it could result in hopelessness and depression or even death.
Life is a gift from God, we need to appreciate it and live it well. In a world where some think that life is an accident and has no purpose, they live it carelessly and most times ends up anyhow too. Sometimes it is not the pain in life that affects human beings the most, but our attitude towards each problems is what we battle with. We may fail in business ventures, family life or educational pursuits but until we know that failing is just a detour, I mean temporary setback, an opportunity to begin again; we shall continue to live in the agony of our failures. Until we fall and do not have the will to stand up again, no one can talk us down or label us as failures. The temporary end is simply a new beginning. Every problem has an expiry date, it cannot last forever.
When some people fall they accept it as a human process and seek ways to start all over again. If they had their ways, they would trace back to why they fell and make the necessary amendments. It may cause a lot of pains, frustrations and ill feelings but do not allow them to stick in your mind. Failure is not a sweet option; nobody in his right frame of mind chooses to fail. Events, situations or persons may have facilitated the failure, but it is our responsibility to rise, clean up our bodies and minds and stick to the vision. It could cause you to return to the drawing board and make some very crucial adjustments to enable you to move ahead. At the back of your mind always remember that every problem has an expiry date. Again Henry Ford says “Failure is an opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”
What constitute the problem we encounter in our life’s undertakings are lack of vision and planlessness; lack of will and ability to forge ahead despite most distracting obstacles. These lapses help to draw us back and may disorganize us but you should not expect to cross to the other side of the sea without encountering storms and strong winds. Success is your ability to waddle through the storm of life. James Allen says, “No situation can be difficult of itself; it’s the lack of insight into its intricacies, and the want of wisdom in dealing with it, which gives rise to the difficulty. Immeasurable, therefore it is the gain of a difficulty transcended.”
When you fall, do not be discouraged to the point that you refuse to continue. “Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes the furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The “sure thing” boat never gets far from shore.”—Dale Carnegie. Get up and continue with your journey. Keep walking and no matter how many times you fall, you will get to the end sometime, someday. Every problem is just for a time, it has its expiry date. Our limitations and success will be based often, on own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body act upon— Denis Waitley. Therefore hold on steadfastly and keep your confessions strong; do not give in to confusion, deceit, distraction and discouragement. Think straight and be positive about yourself and dreams.
Your illness may last for a long time, yet it has an expiry date. This brought to mind the man who was at the lake of Bethsiada for 38years and had no help for his situation. He became so devastated that he lost hope of regaining his health. He lost focus in God and put faith in human beings. Even angels who came to turn the water could not help because someone had to carry him into the water. He blamed his situation to man’s incapability and inabilities to attend to him promptly. Unknown to the man, the throne of grace had an expiry date to his problems. When Jesus passed by He saw him; His apathy and mercy went out to work. Because he had lost hope in the power of heaven and never thought of deliverance or healing he did not recognize Jesus’ presence. However the God who is rich in mercy saw his afflictions and heart cry. Jesus asked him: what do you want me to do for you? He dwelled in the past and complained about the human failures and energy when Gods’ supernatural was already present and in control. The 38 years at the lake side brought to bear a lot of frustration and depression on him. He got so hopelessly helpless and failed to recognize the presence of the King of glory who had come to set him free. God saw his predicament and helplessness and sent intervention from the throne of grace and mercy to help him. Jesus understood the difficulties the man was facing. His exposure to the heat of the sun by day and the cold of the night for 38 years must have affected his look, thoughts and reason. Not-withstanding Jesus healed him because He came that we may have abundant life and every problem has an expiry date unknown to him as well as many. With God all things are possible. This assurance has never failed if you believe it.
This reminds me of the slavery of the Israelites in the land of Egypt. While they were still suffering and being maltreated in Egypt by their slave masters, God had already determined their release and freedom. God heard their groaning and crying and came to their rescue thereby causing their deliverance. When it came to the time of expiry, things halted and expired. Do not be discouraged, distracted or disintegrated. “It’s a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much often succeed through failures. Precept, study, advice and example could never have caught them as well as failure has done.”— Samuel Smiles.
Hold on to the word of God; since God has never failed, His word never fails. Falling is no failure. You need to be courageous in the midst of affliction and persecution. “Courage is the mental muscle that conquers fear. Like all muscles the more you use them, the stronger they become. Courage is not something you are born with, it must be developed. Individuals who fail to develop courage remain confined in mental prisons and face each day as mental lightweights….” Take away doubts of realization. There is no problem that last forever, all has an expiry date. No storm last forever. It can seem like there are going to sweep away everything good in your life. Eventually the waters subside. It last a little longer but it shall at long last go down.
The Good News is that everything [good and bad] is working for your ultimate good. Unknown to you things are turning around in your favor. Therefore stand still and sentinel, be vigilant and keep your confession strong. Trust God in all your ways and be patient; He knows all your struggles and shall put a smile on your face and laughter in your mouth. The bright days are here again; do not give up. Your season of sufferings is over and your season of testimony is one step away. Don’t forget no situation is permanent; it has an expiry date.
Reach Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.