*screenshot taken from Nicole C. Mullen's Youtube video of "The God who Sees"(link posted below)
The story of Hagar became one close to my heart as I peered into the holy verses of her story from my hotel room in Zambia a few years back. Verse by verse, a dear friend and mentor in the Lord, Mama Merida, and I gleaned what the Lord would reveal to share with some beautiful sisters in the Lord the next day. What a privilege and sweet sweet moment in time for me! Little did I know that Nicole C. Mullen's song, "The God Who Sees," birthed from Hagar's story and built to reveal Messiah from beginning to end would minister to me in real ways over the coming years.
Within a year the Lord, would beckon me to a position of leadership and ministry. Upon my "Yes Lord, I will go where you send me," onlookers would remind me that this position was one of potential hardship and controversy. "If you take this position, you will have a target on your back," was spoken to me many times. Their warnings, while clothed in sincerity and care, lacked the faith the Lord was providing me to walk the journey He had set aside for me. With time, I found my response solidified in the Truth of the God I serve and His promises to me. "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward" (Isaiah 58:8). And Isaiah 52:12, "for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward." When I go because I was sent, I do not go alone.
It was in that season this song first impacted me. As I watched Nicole C. Mullens stand in the ring of fire as shown above and so graciously sing Zechariah 2:5, "And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst," I knew this would be true for me. Just as a predator would not cross a ring of fire to get to its prey, so my Lord would guard and protect me. I walked confidently into my position cloaked in the armor of God bearing this knowledge.
Nearly two years later, Father God would bring clarity and deeper revelation. Not only is He my protector- but as the ring of fire He would also be so much more.
As one in health care who is passionate about birthing and supporting women, I often describe the feeling of the crowning of a child in birth, as a "Ring of Fire." It is the slow and steady stretching of a mother's tissues that brings about this incredible burning sensation. The pain felt in the stretching, in the birthing, in the transition between what is hoped for and what is birthed has great purpose. There is purpose in the pain of being stretched. The pain paces the mother. I heard, "I will be the Ring of Fire for you, you will press through with self-control, with purpose, with intention, with strength, but I will pace you." If a mother is not paced in the pushing, flesh will tear. She must take her time and listen to her body.
It's not that our loving God is careless about the pain or the stretching or the intensity of the season. It's that He is using it and pacing us with it that we might not rip some flesh, ours and others. We will indeed arrive on the other side of the difficulty and as we go through it with Jesus He is accomplishing much with it. He will birth everything He desires to birth from it. Just as His Word accomplishes everything He sends it out to do so will the circumstances He allows (Isaiah 55:11.) Like the laboring woman, we must relax, take our time and listen to Holy Spirit's leading. He is the way and knows the way.
Oh Lord, that we might not push through so quickly on our own accord to evade or shorten the pain, but rather trust you to pace us through each season knowing that trials strengthen us, develop our character, and grow us in perseverance.
Praying that Father God strengthen you in your inner being that you are able to walk in the self control afforded to you by the Lord fully trusting Him with the pains associated with being stretched. May you have a glimpse of the greater picture and the courage to wait for the next thing in the fullness of His time. May the rich presence of the Lord be palpable in your day today!
Blessings to you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz81dIfwf4Y "The God Who Sees" by Nicole C Mullens
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
James 1:12 NIV 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
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