Word for the day “It’s time to win.”
Genesis 16:9 (KJV) And the angel of the Lord said unto her, return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. 10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
God morning, Leaders,
Today’s message reminds us that many times in life we are powerless because of our situation in life. We may be in a situation where other people have power over our lives. We may feel that we are trapped by the demands of others and that there’s no way to manage the situation. It’s a double edge sword many times: to please one oftentimes is to disappoint another.
We must be clear on who we are, meaning we belong to God.
OFTENTIMES, THE PERCEPTION OF HAVING CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE CAN GIVE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
Sometimes, when we feel trapped and frustrated in our relationships, we look for a measure of control by escaping through compromising behaviors. I want to caution you today with some valuable considerations for your life’s journey.
The notion of being self-sufficient can lead you in the wrong direction and can sabotage your life and destiny.
HOW TO WIN IN A SEEMINGLY NO-WIN SITUATION IS SIGNIFICANT TO YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.
Please notice in today’s reading, Hagar is a picture of a no-win situation in many instances. She had no rights. As a young girl, she was a slave to Sarai and Abram. When this power couple was upset because Sarai could not bear children, Hagar was given to Abram as a surrogate. When she did become pregnant, as they had wanted, Sarai was so jealous that she imposed her positional power on Hagar, and she ran away.
All alone, out in the wilderness, she was met by an angel who told her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority! Don’t miss this transformational insight as you read what’s next.
“I will give you more descendants than you can count. You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord, has heard your cry of distress” (Genesis 16:9-11).
Can you imagine in Hagar’s distress, the Lord sends an angel to her and consoles her that God hears her painful and undesirable powerless circumstance?
I’ve discovered many human beings are very similar in various challenges. If you experience devastating defeats, a persistent situation that you are unable to change. Perhaps you’ve experienced a terrifying situation you could not control, causing you to lose hope in your ability to change your life situations. Please be reminded sometimes, an ongoing emotional challenge can lead to feelings of hopelessness for all of us.
When we are caught in no-win situations, it’s tempting to run away to our compromising escape places and patterns. In times like these, this narrative informs us that God is there and the Lord is listening to our concerns. We need to learn to express our pain to God and those God-given people in our lives who support us wholeheartedly.
WE MUST LEARN THE VALUE OF MANAGING OUR EMOTIONS.
When you’re feeling stressed, depressed, or overwhelmed, it’s hard to hold onto that feeling of hope. Feeling like you are in a no-win is one of the most challenging emotions to manage, especially when the feeling has been present for a prolonged period. We’ve all had those moments when there didn’t appear to be a way out.
During these periods, many hopeless people wonder what the point of even trying is, especially when they feel like there is no hope. Finding the win when it seems like there is none to be found can be extremely difficult, but I’m sharing with you today to challenge you that “It is possible.”
Hope is there; we need the courage and faith to walk through the wilderness and find our direction. If you’re ready to change your outlook on life and become a person of hope, follow the pattern of God as we see Hagar did in today’s message.
POINT TO PONDER
Today’s potent message is unpacking for all of us; the Lord knows and hears our problems and is willing to give us hope for the future. When we can’t trace God’s hand, let us learn to trust God’s heart.
Leadership Insights and Questions:
Whatever situation you find yourself in, there's always hope.
Remember always to share your pain with the Lord.
How can today’s message about Hagar add value to your life?
Do you see yourself in today’s message?
Is it time to learn how to manage your emotions?
Are you ready to win in a no-win situation?
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Kingdom Blessings,