Righteous But Barren: It’s Not About You

I’m sorry to all that checked for the e-Boost yesterday but found none, I was working on some other topic before this topic was impressed on my heart during my devotion yesterday morning. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to fully write it out and post yesterday. The good news is, it’s ready and published now #widegrin. Please seat back and enjoy.

The title “Righteous but Barren” sounds paradoxical (a paradox is a statement that is self-contradictory because it often contains two statements that are both true, but in general, cannot both be true at the same time). It sounds untrue to hear of a barren righteous man. The words righteous and barren shouldn’t be used to define one entity in quick succession. But if God permits it, there’s just one key lesson to note – IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!

Today’s post is specially for Christians who may feel God has betrayed or disappointed them in one way or the other. Christians who are righteous, zealous for the kingdom, faithful over what God has put in their care but there’s an area in their lives that appears barren despite their numerous prayers and supplications to God for His divine intervention in the matter. For such areas of continued unfruitfulness, it appears as though God is deaf to their prayers or not willing to answer.

Our case study is Luke 1:6-7,

“6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.“ (NIV)

“6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.” (KJV)

The above scripture makes it very clear that both Elizabeth and her husband were living a life that was pleasing to God. They were both righteous and blameless before God, yet, they had no child. The phrase #RighteousbutBarren first struck me during a TWTW bible study we had 2 weeks ago. The anchor IfyHalim, drew our attention to the fact that Zechariah and Elizabeth though #RighteousbutBarren, did not alter their faithful service and loyalty to God. Their service and commitment to God had gone beyond a gimme gimme relationship. The bible noted that they were both stricken in years, they were righteous, they were childless yet they remained faithful in their priestly assignment.

Christianity is sweet and enjoyable when God answers your prayers speedily and meets your needs before you ask. That is actually God’s good pleasure as our Father. But as a good Father, He is very interested in us having a personal relationship with Him. A relationship that goes beyond what we can get from Him. A relationship where we place Him the Giver above the gifts He blesses us with. A relationship where we stay loyal and committed to Him with or without the blessing. A relationship where we come to terms with the truth that it’s all about Him and not about us. A relationship where we come to trust His plans and will for us as what’s best for us at every point in time. This is where testing our love and commitment to Him comes in. Jesus in John 21:15 after they had finished eating asked Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

From my personal experience, I have come to realize that when answers to our prayers are delayed or not answered, we’re more concerned about what people will think or say, than about finding out what exactly God is saying about the request. We forget that all God does for us and through us is primarily for His name sake. Psalm 23:3 says “He leads me in paths of righteousness, for HIS name sake” This shows that God is intentional when He is dealing with us His children. His primary goal is for His name sake, not for yours or mine. We need to get over ourselves and note that the core essence of our very being is for His Purpose.

God is our creator and Father, He has the grand scheme of things and sees the big picture – we don’t. Most times we are fixated on God doing things the way we want them forgetting that:

1. He loves us and knows what’s best for us. He will not deny us of any good thing according to His will.
2. His ways and will supersedes our ways and will.
3. His timing and calendar is far above and different from our timing and calendar. Your expectations may not come or happen when you want it to, but He is always on time.

I know today’s post sounds more like a bible study but I feel it in my heart that someone needs encouragement to not give up on God and His promises to him|her. I believe God from the beginning of time had predestined Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of John the Baptist. Imagine what would have happened if God had answered their prayers for a child and given them John like 20 or 30 years before Christ was conceived!¡! What would have happened to his (John’s) divine purpose of being the fore runner of Jesus? I also imagine what would have happened if either Zachariah or Elizabeth stopped worshipping God before He answered their prayers (Luke 1:13)

So when next the devil tries to convince you that God is unfaithful. Or you want to give up because you feel that God is being slow in granting your request or denying answers to your prayers, remember:

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” – Proverbs 24:10 (KJV)

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”. – Isaiah 55:9 (NIV)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

“And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” – Luke 1:45 (KJV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)

“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” – Hebrews 10:36 (KJV)

Thank you for reading today’s post, I hope you have been encouraged. Please don’t hesitate to share your comments in the box below and also share the post with your contacts, on and off the social media. You may be saving a soul…

Wishing y’all a righteous and fruitful rest of week.

ChinyereDistinguished

First image Photo Credit: launchcoaching.com