Whitnee's journey with Christ

Since being displaced from our home, we have stumbled over quite a few hurdles or bumps in the road. It’s been rough but by the grace of God we made it out ok! A little bit of bumps or bruises but like the old saying “what doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger.”

My family and I had already been working on becoming first time homebuyers. This is a new experience (a stressful one I might add) but we know God wants us to have life and life more abundantly. I want to leave something to my children- we are building a legacy. Nobody said the road would be easy BUT He didn’t bring us this far to leave us. I had to keep repeating those words and listening to Mary Mary sing their song for encouragement. But what has kept me going since this particular point in life is 2 Corinthians 5:7.

The picture above was taken by myself as Rico, Emmanuel, William and the two latest members of our family Rocky and Coco had just finished viewing a house. We had been looking for places all this time that would be within 5-7 minutes at the most away from my mom and it’s rough right now with the interest rates being so low for mortgages and with schools being the way they are, every parent is looking for a good school district. With that said, you have to be so competitive.

This process alone had caused so much stress and I didn’t realize it until I found myself “shutting down.” I grew so weary and the excitement of looking for a house had start to become scary, tiresome, and I’ll be frank-very disappointing. All my hopes and dreams and aspirations of this being a lovely experience was all wrong. I felt like I jumped from the scene of Pleasantville to Saw. All in all, God kept me- He is keeping us!

I told Rico a few weeks ago I was so tired. I found myself saying it every day. I found myself saying it so much I became drained physically, socially, mentally, and I was tapping into being spiritually drained but I knew it was time to “pump the brakes.”

Although the verse 2 Corinthians 5:7 is in reference to the assurance of the resurrection, it brings great joy to my soul knowing that I serve a God whom I can trust IN ALL WAYS. When everything around me has changed so much God remained the same. He is the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And because of that I have peace because I know by being steadfast and keeping the faith whatever I’m going through or whatever I face will all work out for the good of the Lord.

The songwriter says “He may not come when you want Him but He is always right on time. I’ll tell you He’s an on time God, yes He is.”

I had to realize that I’m not suffering for nothing but there is a reason I’m going through it. Not only for me, but you for and your loved ones. Did you ever stop to think that out of your afflictions can yield blessings for someone else. While we are “going through” someone is watching and praying over us, someone is tapping into that prayer line while you are on your knees crying, someone is watching of although you may be weeping you are still praising God, someone’s soul is being convicted because YOUR FAITH HAS NOT FALTERED. Oh give God the glory somebody!

I’m in a dancing mood this morning y’all. I feel like praising the Lord. I feel like testifying. I feel like stomping my feet and clapping my hands. I feel like shouting. I feel like jumping for joy. I feel like doing the HOLY GHOST DANCE! 💃🏻

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 
While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NKJV 

NOW WHAT YOU SAY! Did you read what I just wrote? If you ain’t shouting for joy, you ought to read that scripture one more time!

The Bible tells us that anything we face or whatever we go through for HIS SAKE we will be rewarded. Sometimes we may not see it on this side but we definitely see it in Heaven.

Can I tell you whatever you are going through right now won’t last forever. Whatever you have gone through IT WAS NECESSARY and whatever you go through IS NOT IN VAIN. There is a story behind your journey, there is a message behind the mess, there is a testimony on the other side of the test, there is joy coming in the morning.

My sisters and brothers WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT BUT JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING LIGHT! It might still be dark where you are in this season BUT the Lord is YOUR LIGHT. It might be sunshine right now but rain tomorrow- it might be storming today and calm skies tomorrow- whatever the “season” is in your life right now I CHALLENGE YOU TO TRUST GOD AND NOT THE CLIMATE. I dare you to walk by faith and not by sight.

The house where this picture was taken could have been our forever home but right when I got everything squared away with my realtor and the underwriting department about no more than twenty minutes later my realtor called and said they got another offer in and the sellers agent accepted it. This was the first time in weeks I still smiled after receiving bad news. You see there was a shift in my attitude because after being in my office on Sunday night all alone I had time to fellowship with my God and He told me to hold on my Beloved Child. God said to me your house is coming, just hold on and keep the faith.

You see if the house that is pictured in the background is the house God has for me than NO MATTER what offer is on the table that offer WILL FAIL. If that house is ours then those folks can just keep on trucking baby because THEY CANT HAVE WHAT GOD HAS FOR ME. God knows what all we have gone through in the last few months and God has heard our cry and He has bottled every last one of our tears. And because of that I’m at peace. In the meantime it might not be my own but I thank God I have a roof over my head. I thank God my kids have a place to lay their heads even if it is only temporary.

Moral of today’s message is no matter how bad you have it or think you have it, trust God. No matter how you feel on the darkest of days, keep the faith. No matter how long you have been going through it, endure just a little while longer. No matter if you are at the end of your rope, trust God to extend His helping hand to keep you from giving up.

No I may not have my “forever home” and while others sleep my husband and I are out still looking but I know while we rest God is at work and like the man of God said to us on Sunday God is coming again and while we are searching for this house on Earth God has a mansion prepared for us in glory. Oh what a joy it will be when I have finished my race and will be United with my daddy and them in that “FOREVER HOME.” But until I get there I have one more piece of information to share with you. I might have some more seeds of encouragement to sow if it is God’s will for me to do so.

I want you to turn to the book of John, 4th chapter. When you get there read verses 46-54. I’m not going to give it to you this time because it’s time for you to put it through work and pick up your Bible or use the app on your phone to look this passage of scripture up. You got it yet? I’ll wait!

(30 seconds later)

Verse 48 says, then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

I admit I was guilty of this. I got weary and I grew impatient and I was weak- I had to ask God for forgiveness for the doubt that was in my actions. I couldn’t see the “bright side” because it felt so distant but God was always in the midst of it all. So I have to take the time to thank God for the signs and wonders while confessing my sin.

Don’t sleep on God! Don’t give up on Him because He won’t give up on you! He won’t fail! He can’t fail!

Be faithful. Praise God in the midst of it all. Give Him the praise. Pray at all times. Be steadfast. Endure to the end. Walk by faith and not sight. And JUST BELIEVE!