Are you feeling pressures in your life?

Are you still waiting for answers to prayers you’ve been praying for a long time?

Maybe you’re in need of healing or you need a financial miracle.

Right now I am in Germany for the month of July on a healing sabbatical. I’m seeking healing of an acute case of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity that I have been battling for over two years.

I am expecting to come home next month fully healed with a plan to stay that way. I have pursued many avenues for healing, so it is not like I have not tried!

Circumstances like these cause us all to wonder:

“Why do people suffer?”

I don’t understand why people get sick. But I do know we have a God who loves us and can heal us and restore our lives.

One thing I learned in the midst of over two years of chronic illness is that God does not cause sickness, but He will use anything that brings him glory and draws us closer to Him.

I now have a new compassion for those who suffer with illness. God will use these times to set us up for future blessings.

Waiting for your ship to come in

Have you ever heard that saying: “I’m just waiting for my ship to come in”?

God drew me to a boat story today that I want to share with you.

In Matthew 8, Jesus had been ministering all day and He told his disciples to get into the boat and cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm,” Matthew 8:23–26 NIV.

Jesus knew full well that there was going to be a storm that night and He did not give his disciples a heads-up. It is interesting that the storm came “without warning.”

Sleeping in the storm

During an intense storm, Jesus was not up on the deck saving the day. Instead, He was asleep.

We often go through seasons in our lives when it seems like the Lord is asleep.

Anyone know what I am talking about?

Oh sure, Jesus is in your boat, but man He must be asleep because nothing seems to be happening on the spiritual front.

God never leaves us but there are times when He allows things to happen to strengthen us.

I want to let you in on a secret that can save you years of hardship in trying to grow spiritually: God uses situations and storms in our life to strengthen us and draw us closer to Him.

God uses life’s storms to grow us up into maturity.

All throughout the Bible are stories and accounts of men and women who went through hard times in the midst of growing in relationship with God.

Jesus knew the storm was coming so why didn’t He simply intercede and prevent it from happening?

Jesus demonstrated for us the proper way to respond when a storm arises in our lives.

• He rested.
• He was not afraid.
• He prayed and took authority and commanded it to stop.

Blessings on the horizon

It is interesting to note that right after the enemy tried to drown Jesus and His disciples, several amazing miracles took place.

I have seen this in my life as well. When the enemy attacks and you stand through it, there is usually a blessing as long as you don’t jump ship.

Rest and know that God has not left you.
Don’t be afraid. Pray, believe and stand firm. It will all work out!

P.S. If you have not heard my story of going to Germany, you can read more about it here.

 

Blessings,
~ Doug Addison

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Doug Addison is a prominent conference speaker captivating audiences with clean stand-up comedy and high energy prophetic messages which he has shared on television, radio and the internet for over a decade. Doug brings laughter, fun and a unique prophetic style while empowering people to transform their lives, discover their destiny and understand dreams, tattoos and piercings. His powerful messages stay with his audiences long after hearing him.