John ESENE

      In your difficult situation, do not write yourself off because God has not finish with you. Great things happen when God meets with man!  “Those who put their trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion that cannot be shaken” Ps 125:1. You are not defeated until you accept defeat.

    It pays to be calm when in danger and look up to the Lord for counseling and consolation. Moses was in despair when he encountered God and was assigned to lead the Israelites out of Egypt as stated in Exodus. He ran away from Egypt to hide himself in Midian and did not expect any favor from God. Peter denied Jesus thrice, wept for his sin, became calm and regain his position. Saul was demolishing the Church when he was called to preach in favor of the Church. These great men and many more are our models.

     Do not allow the hopelessness or failure of yesterday to weigh you down today! No matter how ugly your situation may be, recall Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus that special day when his life changed to a fisher of men. Your name may not be Peter,  but summon courage to look up to Jesus today and move towards Him who is closer to you than you ever know and make yourself available to Him who has power to change you for good. And you will not regret it!

     Peter and others were unable to catch even a fish the previous night and were in despair the following morning. But Jesus said to Simon, “Push the boat out further to the deep water, and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:4-5. And the resultant effect was beyond their expectations, hence Simon said to Jesus, “Go away from me, Lord! I am a sinful man!” but Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” Luke 5:8, 10. And when Simon fulfilled Jesus’ plans for him, he truly became a fisher of men.

    When Peter in Mt. 14:28-33 was walking on the water towards Jesus and was about to get drown, Jesus reached out to him and got hold of him. Jesus did not abandon Peter. So also, when Peter denied Jesus three times he repented and was forgiven Mt. 26:60-75. So, let us rise each time we fall to achieve the purpose for which we are created by God.

       Few years ago, a woman who was suddenly divorced by her husband because she was childless for 12 years cried to God who answered her generously with a set of triplets after she remarried. Your own faith is the identity key to your personal victory.

    God closes in on us in order to crush our fears and demolish our selfishness. Then, He gives us the holy boldness to speak what we are afraid to say. Even if we are terrified, our fear will be mixed with incredible joy as the Lord overcomes our resistance. Cleopas and the other disciple had left for Emmaus when Christ, the Good Shepherd decided to recover His lost sheep. Cleopas and his colleague made a U-turn when they encountered Christ but most of us fail to rise again when we fall.

    The fact that we are followers of Christ does not exempt us from suffering. “Once more, Jesus went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cup of suffering cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” Mt. 26:42. Like Jesus, let us surrender ourselves to God’s will in maturity and simplicity. If it is God’s will to remove our suffering from us, he will do so but if it will fulfill his purpose for us, let his will be done.

   Let us put our trust and faith in Jesus who came to do the will of His Father for our sake. Jesus said in John 6. 37, “Everyone whom my Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me”.  Jesus waits anxiously for us to come to Him to enjoy eternal life but most times, we allow things of this world to distract us. “I have food to eat of which you do not know. My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to accomplish His work.” Jn. 4:32, 34.

     If you have been doubtful of the power in Jesus, His love for you and His eagerness to show you His mercy and bless you, then rise up and follow Him like Mary Magdalene in John 20:14-18 and you will not regret it. Doubt no more whether Jesus cares for you, knowing too well that He died to bring us life, to lead us to the Father whose plan for us is to grant us eternal life through His Only Begotten, Jesus Christ!

     Today, let us seek the Divine mercy of God for the number of times we have doubted Jesus like Thomas doubted His resurrection.  Let no fear, circumstance, discomfort, insecurity, kidnapping, economy, etc. compel us to doubt the goodness, power and mercy of God. The fact that we are followers of Christ does not exempt us from suffering. If it is God’s will to remove our suffering from us, He will do so but if it will fulfill His purpose for us, let His will be done.  Jesus has made us Alleluia people. Let us be glad and rejoice in it!

      Jesus wants you to rise and be useful to yourself and the society. At various places in the Bible, we hear Him saying to the weak and the down trodden, “Get up and go” or “Your faith has healed you”. In your eyes of faith, see Jesus and hear Him saying same words to you today, that you may truly be healed!   As for me and my family, we will live to praise God every day! Dear Lord, give us the grace to feel your presence and value what you have been doing in our lives so that our joy may be complete in Jesus’ Name. Amen!