Before The Blessings: SANCTIFIED EMOTIONS!
“And blessed is He who is not offended because of Me.” Matthew 11:6 (NKJV)
It’s another New Year, marked by the fresh release of prophetic words that set our hearts aflame. Without a doubt, every declaration, sign, and symbol reaffirm that this will be the best year yet—the one that defines and ushers us into decades ahead, with everything unprecedented.
As we relentlessly push through the hustle and bustle to keep up with the pace of the calendar, we carry unspoken expectations lingering in our hearts. Maybe not for everyone, but deep down — whether written in our journals or mentally noted, there are specific months with certain ‘should-haves and must-haves' attached.
But here's the catch: It's in times like these that our heart walk will be tested, heavily!
This month, which had barely begun, I found myself in one of those moments where I felt I deserved more than what the day had to offer. Midway through expressing my frustration to God about feeling under-rewarded, I received a text informing me that I was to teach the youth in church on The Power of Goal-Setting. I thought, ‘God, you should really let me vent before handing me yet another assignment.’
So, without hesitation, I picked up my phone and responded that I wouldn’t be available to attend the meeting or teach. Though I struggled to sleep—because the Holy Spirit and I have an interesting relationship—my mind was made up. I wasn’t leaving the house, and I certainly wasn’t going to church. To avoid caving in, I put my phone on Do Not Disturb.
Aroused from a deep sleep minutes later, I heard the words: “Blessed is he who is not offended by me.” As quickly as I could, I rushed to check the scripture. As I immersed myself in this unplanned study, I realized it was Jesus speaking—directing those words to someone whom He declared: ‘Among those born of women, there has not risen one greater than him.’ This someone is His forerunner.
John the Baptist, God’s chosen and ordained prophet from the womb, endowed with a heavy anointing to discern, see, and hear, was also a carrier of the teaching gift to herald the gospel to people of every class and caliber, preparing the way for the One who was to come. Yet, he found himself imprisoned for unapologetically giving himself to what He was called to do. Confined to a cell, his once fervent and audacious emotions began to wane, leading him to send his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Now, let’s be real! That was a very strange and absurd question, coming from a man who, right from the womb, leapt at the recognition of Christ’s anointing. Trust me, if we were all there, it would take only a few seconds for us to bash and roll our eyes at the man who didn’t need to sleep or travail in prayer to effortlessly hear from God or have supernatural encounters and open visions. As the Lord’s anointed, these were his daily operations. A man who, with all humility, once said he’d rather be baptized by Jesus than have it the other way around. This same man, whose life’s purpose was to prepare the way for his cousin—who saw the heavens open and audibly heard God proclaiming Him as His beloved Son, in whom He was well-pleased—questioned the very existence of Jesus Christ.
To be honest, I can’t fault him. As I sat on my bed, I trembled at the realization that, indeed, hope deferred makes the heart sick.
Like us, John the Baptist, though heavily anointed from the womb with divine proofs, had his unsaid expectations about Christ, realistic or not. He was held behind bars for doing what he was destined to do — sharing the Gospel. I’m certain that in his heart, he must have envisioned dramatic rescue scenes. The devoted young man likely expected Christ to show up, break the bars, or have everyone fall into a deep sleep so he could escape.
However, days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months. There was no news about this Man, whom he sacrificed everything for, coming to visit or deliver him. Yet, all he kept hearing was about Him performing miracles, signs, and wonders to the people he had preached to.
Ah! I’m sure he felt cheated.
Irrefutably, John was a bondservant and laborer worthy of every wage. So, delivering him from prison would have been too small a miracle compared to his service unto God.
But, because God’s thoughts are not ours, and neither are our ways His, John’s disciples were only told to go back and report to him what they saw Jesus do, reconfirming what he had been hearing behind the bars.
This year, it’s undeniable that this is a season of payoff—the year God will restore to us in multiplicity the years the locusts have eaten. However, while we align ourselves and patiently wait to receive His blessings, it’s wise for us to have our hearts and emotions sanctified, not expecting Him to show up in the ways we’ve pictured, and more wiser to trust Him and His plans — to do what He knows is best for us.
Without equivocation, God could have delivered John, but his doubt erased the years of mountaintop faith he had built. His unmet expectations caused him to question the very existence of the One he had vowed to live and die for
It should never have been heard or read that the one who was referred to as the ‘greatest’ would have, in his death record, been beheaded and served on a plate. It should never have been!
And I thought to myself, maybe, just maybe, if his disciples had waited a bit longer to hear Christ’s public remark about John, he might have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps, it would have encouraged him and reignited his once fiery and firm faith.
As I pause to take the time to ask God for mercy and that my heart will be re-strengthened for this year’s walk and work with Him, I realize that many who were once in the faith, backslided because of unmet expectations. From what I can perceive, many more will drop out just at the verge of the very breakthrough they’ve spent years praying for, because they won’t have the patience to endure the challenges that will come this year.
I encourage you to see every test as a heart test—a test to see if, truly, you will hold onto your resolve or if you will curse God and die, as Job’s wife advised him. You know, choose to see every discomfort from God as a stretching—the kind that will not break or kill you, but the kind that will push you into places you’d never imagine, for it’s all part of the dealings that comes as being bondservants of God. So, instead of reacting based on your emotions, why not sit to either lament or praise like Job, never doubting what you heard God say or saw Him do.
This season, guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it will flow the issues that will mark and define whether your year will be best or worst. By all means, do not allow bitterness rid you of your blessings. Instead, pray that your emotions be sanctified to face everything head-on.
Officially, I say, welcome to 2025—the acceptable year of the LORD. It’s truly beautiful to write to you again!
Your friend,
Goodie
