Often as Christians we may find ourselves in what we perceive as a desert. It’s a place where we are waiting for the next thing. You may be in a difficult job situation and you are waiting for another employment. You may be waiting for God to send you a spouse. You maybe waiting for the manifestation of your healing. You are in a difficult situation, you know God has something better but for now you are waiting. What do you do during the wait? PROSPER.
Anyone can prosper in their promised land but can you prosper in the desert? Can you find joy when life is difficult? Can you bless others while you wait for your blessing? Can you minister to those around you when you are in pain? I’m not talking about being fake. But can you be raw and honest about your struggle but still impart hope to others? Can you proper in the desert?
The children of Israel were in captivity. But God says this to them: “you are going to be here for awhile so build houses, marry, have children, increase do not decrease. And this is the kicker, pray for the prosperity of the land that has taken you captive.”
God’s people are a prospering people: Joseph prospered in jail, Paul prospered in prison, Daniel prospered in exile, Jacob prospered in sevantude, David prospered in the stronghold.
We prosper because we recognize, God is bigger than our circumstances. Despite what is going on on the outside we have a huge God on the inside. We prosper because we have faith no weapon formed against us shall prosper. We prosper because we have a hope this situation is but for a moment. We prosper because we have the assurance nothing can separate us from God’s love. We prosper because we are like our Father.
Do you find yourself in the desert – waiting? Waiting for the better job; waiting for the spouse; waiting for your healing; waiting for things to get better externally? Stop looking and focusing on your situation. Find joy where you are, increase where you are, pray for those around you, bless those God has put in your desert, point people to the light, prosper where you are!
“The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says to all those he sent into exile to Babylon from Jerusalem, ‘Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and allow your daughters get married so that they too can have sons and daughters. Grow in number; do not dwindle away. Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the LORD for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.’ (Jeremiah 29:4-7 NET)