Taiwo Odukoya, Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos, has counselled Christians not to be deterred, discouraged, distracted, or disobedient to God by the challenges in their journey of life.
God is always with them, Odukoya reiterated during a family Sunday service.
Instead of holding on to God and seeking His plan and purpose for our lives, many Christians rather suggest what He should do and how He should do it.
“A lot of times, we suggest to God what He should do and how He should do it, but we need to allow God do His work because He knows exactly how to do it,” he said.
Citing the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness in Exodus 14:10-23, Odukoya stressed that a born again child of God should not entertain fear after he or she has received God’s direction as this could lead to murmuring.
Murmuring could get God angry as it happened to the children of Israel who murmured against God despite their experiences of His hand in Egypt.
Quoting verses 13 and 14, he said instead of murmuring, Christians should not be afraid to move forward.
“Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
“The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace’” (Exodus 14:13-14 NKJV).
Odukoya added: “We are the centre of the miraculous, so your breakthrough has started, but there is a need to cooperate with God. The moment murmuring and grumbling begin, you open the door for trouble.
“If God says you should go forward, it means there is a sure way ahead, just go forward.”
Fellowship with and service to God keeps every believer’s mind at rest.
“When it’s difficult to hear God, get into His presence. As long as you keep going, there is no defeat.”
Challenges come in various ways and disappointment, discouragement, confusion, fear, and even anger set in when men persist without visible solutions.
But as children of God who trust and hope in His Word and promise, Oduokya added, that is precisely the time when faith and courage should be stirred up.
“There is a better way God wants us to handle challenges and that is in His Word.”
Quoting John 16:33 and sharing his personal experiences, he said challenges are inevitable; they are part of life.
It may look irrational not to be shaken or moved when faced with challenges, but that is what is expected of every child of God and it was what Paul and Silas did in Acts 16:25-30.
“That was what Jesus Christ told His disciples to do and by extension, that is what He is also asking you to do.”
He admonished believers to put their hope and trust in the faithful and loving God to fulfill His covenant of supernatural harvest in their lives, even if they are going through challenges presently, and praise Him.
“His thoughts towards us are always of good even when things look bleak.”
