Reasons to Hold On

I wrote a blog post nearly 4 years ago entitled, “When God Gives You a Word” and the other night, I kept looking at the word God gave me on May 28th, 2015 [written in a journal entry]. I reread it over and over again, taking my time to really meditate on what was given to me. Soon approaching year 10 (May 28th, 2025) and the word has yet to come to pass. Did I lose faith along the journey? Yes. Many many times. Have I gotten discouraged, frustrated, overwhelmed, angry, and anxious? Yes, yes, and yes. Am I still holding on to the word in this very moment despite having so many questions as to why God is allowing me to go through this? Yes. However, I will say that I did in fact let go of the questions because a part of the word God gave me was to “rest in Him”. That means to trust Him even though it doesn’t make sense, and 2 days in, I have been doing just that: letting go and letting God. 

Till this day, I am still holding on the word and I want to share with you a few reasons as to why:

1. Reason 1: It is important to acknowledge your feelings when they come but to not stay stuck in it. The walk of faith is not an easy one. It comes with persecution, oppression, darkness, feelings of loneliness, and attacks from the enemy. Through it all, God is still near. He has not left and will never. He is well aware of all that you are going through and are currently facing, and as crazy as it may sound, it was all a part of His plan. He knew that you were going to go through a difficult season in your life before the season started and 2 scriptures you must remember while you are walking a path of obedience even though everything in you wants to give up:
   1. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9
      1. There are some things that you will never understand and some questions that may never get answered. You just have to trust God and take Him at his word even though you do not understand the “why”. 
   2. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
      1. Stop leaning on your own understanding and trying to figure out why you are going through what you are going through. If this is where God has you, believe that it is for your own good.
2. Reason 2: I know that God is not a man that will lie. He is not a God of confusion. His promises are yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). His word to you will come to pass at the right time. It may look far from it but rest in Him. God knows exactly what He is doing. If your employer said that you will get paid every 2 weeks, or your friend (who has always shown up for you) said that they can make it to your event, you do not question it. You receive the word and move forward knowing that it will happen. Do the same for God. 
3. Reason 3: When you pray, He answers. I told God that I desperately needed a word, something to hold on to because my faith was getting weak. And these 2 scriptures rang true: 
   1. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.” – Psalm 34:17
   2. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7: 7-8 
      1. Many times, the thing that we need from God is not going to come in the way that we desire for it to come. I wanted a direct word from God via a prophecy while at church or a dream. Not a sermon or a song. I wanted my name specifically called to know that it was meant directly for me. However, none of this happened. God answered when I opened up the Bible and continued my Bible study in the book of Acts when Paul was imprisoned. That is where I got my revelation. Not in the way that I expected but in a way that brought me great peace and silenced all the questions and thoughts in my head. 

There are so many reasons to hold on even when it is hard. Sometimes God creates these seasons so that through Him, you can grow and most importantly, learn to trust and depend fully on Him. Although very uncomfortable, these precise moments of trials and tribulations unfolds your identity in Christ, and above all, helps you to develop an intimate and personal relationship with Him. Therefore, do not be discouraged during hard seasons. Instead, use it as an opportunity to surrender, draw closer to God, and wait patiently on Him. He is all you need to get you through. 

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