dreamin4freedom

“Has your back ever been against the wall? Have you ever wanted to give up and as Marvin Gaye put it, “throw up both your hands.” When you feel you cannot take one more minute of pain, stress, workplace drama, heartache, current events, financial or health problems, that is usually the time when the Lord steps in and takes over. He makes a way for us through the storm tossed days and nights of this life.  In Genesis 18:14 a question is put to us: “Is anything too hard for God”?  The answer, “No, there is nothing too hard for the Lord”. You say, “What about poverty, sickness, broken relationships, depression and what about death”? No doubt, all of these things can bring us to a point where we (yes, me too) begin to doubt God. We ask, “Can God really take care of this?” The answer is simply, “Yes”. That IS the final answer. You don’t need a lifeline to help you with this one.

God tells us to ask anything in his name and it shall be done, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13).  Even though God has told us to ask in his name, we still often forget and try to accomplish things on our own without first asking for God’s help. When we do this, we are basically telling God, “I don’t need you.”  We must learn to invite him in to help us in each and every part of our lives. This is the key to ensuring that he will make a way for us.  If we spend more time with Him and begin to fill our minds with his word, we will begin to understand more clearly that he is ALWAYS there for us.

In Isaiah 43: 18, 19, after the Lord parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to pass through safely and escape Pharaoh’s army, the scripture tells us:

“Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
 Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.”

God made a way for the Israelites where there was previously no way.  When God says “do you not perceive it,”  it is almost like asking us , “don’t you understand what I am doing”? It is often our own doubt and disbelief in the power of God and what he can do in our lives that causes us periods of turmoil and pain. He made us in his image, so it makes total sense that he wants what is best for us. He wants to literally pick us up out of our grief, loneliness, and despair.  For example, I spent a lot of time lamenting the 2016 presidential election. I still do not want to fully accept that it happened. And don’t even get me started on how I felt upon discovering that a huge number of white evangelical Christians voted for our current president. Are you kidding me? I felt like I had been punched in the stomach.  I could not comprehend it.  I heard one person say, “God allowed it or it would not have happened.” Uh, you can leave my presence now. LOL. I also heard, “We went through slavery and survived, we will survive this.” Wait a minute! Just because black people made it through slavery, does not mean that it should have happened.  Just because we were resilient enough to survive as a people, does not mean that when bad things happen that affect us as a people, we should just calmly accept it.   When the election was over, I was angry and sad. I doubted if God could make a way out of my sadness and despair. But, eventually…he did! It took some time, but the sun did shine again and I felt rays of hope in my heart. I remembered what my husband used to say to our children when they were unhappy about something. He would say, “while you’re at it, don’t forget to count your blessings.” It was an encouragement, most often to my son, that there was always more good things happening in our lives than bad.

God made a way for me out of my season of lamenting by continuing to shower me with his joy, love, favor, and multiple blessings. I could look at my family and friends, and be reminded daily how God always makes a way. I see many signs around me that God is making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.  My family and friend’s lives are flourishing and they are blessing others in their spheres of influence. They are experiencing many miracles of God. For some, its healing and for others, restoration. He is making dreams come true, he is promoting, he is blessing financially, and he is calling some to ministry.  If we take time to recognize it, He is clearly working on our behalf. His plan for us is still:  “To prosper and not harm you, to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Here are some recent real life examples of God making a way:

My son, Jerrell, released a new CD, Nu Growth and in May 2018 he will launch a local tour featuring himself and other aspiring spoken word/rap artists.

WA-BLOC, Washington Building Leaders of Change, an organization Jerrell is a member of, was granted approximately 175,000.00 from the City’s Department of Education and Early Learning to run Freedom Schools for the next two years.

My daughter Kaila and her husband Ken are leading praise and worship at Rainier Avenue Church, and both are members of the International Praise Band worship team. They are spreading the gospel with their beautiful style of worship.

Kaila and Ken recently moved back into their home, after being forced to move temporarily due to mold.  Their strong faith and love for each other helped get them through this stressful time.

My best friend, Anita Crawford-Willis has served her first year as a Seattle Municipal Court Judge.

My husband Gregory changed careers, leaving Casey Family Programs after thirteen years to become Managing Strategist for the Rainier Beach Action Coalition (RBAC).

My niece Danyelle, who has a B.S. in Animal Science is employed in her area of expertise at Charles River Solutions, and was recently promoted to laboratory technician providing pathology support.

My friend Freddy Robinson, underwent brain surgery and we are praying for his full recovery (Pray for him, please).  His wife, Diana has been devoted to him as he has faced this health challenge for ten years. She still works and she still laughs, even through tears.

My friend Becca, is fighting cancer with strong faith and courage.  This sister is a warrior…Pray for her full recovery.

My friend David Jones, an evangelist and musician was diagnosed a few years ago with Alzheimers disease.  His wife Daphne is devoted and full of faith. Her strength is amazing!

My nephew and niece Mark and Anne Nsimbi, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Namuli. She is so wonderful and she has brought so much joy to the whole family!

My friend, Mekka celebrated the birth of her first child, Aidan. He is a handsome baby boy and a true miracle!

My son’s girlfriend, Darozyl, received a 16,000.00 scholarship towards earning her masters degree in education.

My pastor’s wife, Andrea, celebrated nine years of being healed from an aneurism and stroke.

My brother in law J.D., was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but this has caused our family to become more intense in our prayer life, and to count on the Lord to provide for J.D. in all that concerns him.

I celebrated five years of being healed after having a stroke in 2013.

I could go on and on, but I think you understand. There are so many ways that God provides for us and makes a way for us daily. We have to take time to recognize that He is always working for our good. Even if it seems like “our back is against the wall, and it looks as if it’s over”, He is right there, for you and me!

On Easter Sunday 2018, our choir sang a song titled, “You Made a Way”, by gospel artist Travis Greene. The chorus of the song states: “You move mountains, you cause walls to fall. With your power, perform miracles. There is nothing that’s impossible, and we’re standing here only because you made a way.” What has God done for you? What mountain has he moved that maybe you forgot to thank him for? What mountain or wall is in your life right now that you need God’s help with?  Is it just believing in his power to help you through a situation? Is it that broken relationship with your family member that you still want him to heal? Maybe it is a health problem, or an addiction. Whatever your mountain or wall is, pray, trust God and ask Him to make a way to move your mountain and bring down your wall! He is still the God of miracles and he always makes a way for his children.  Please leave a comment or reflection on God’s ability to make a way. God bless you.

Enjoy the video of Travis Greene’s “You Made a Way”.