For the past couple of days, we’ve learned about Jacob’s dream and we’ve talked about how the Lord confirmed that He would bless his future, in spite of his previous acts of deception. After waking from his vision the next morning, the young man must have felt great relief as he realized that he was still in the middle of God’s good plan. Having sensed the very presence of the Lord in that place, he had seen divine glory; now, his expectations were high, and he was waiting for another miraculous display of power and provision. However, much to his surprise, it didn’t come. In fact, he was still in the middle of nowhere and things got much worse before they got better. Interestingly, this is a theme we see over and over again in the pages of Scripture. As soon as God promises great blessings, circumstances grow harder. For instance, Abraham was 75 years old when he received the promise that he would be a father, but he didn’t see its fulfillment until he was 100. Then there’s Joseph. The Lord gave him a great vision about his future and he was immediately sold into slavery where his life unraveled further. Even the ones whom Jesus healed — though we look at them and see that they were instantly made well — had been praying, believing, and seeking a miracle for a long time. The woman with the issue of blood had suffered for twelve long years and had exhausted all of her resources seeking treatment. Likewise, the blind man was unable to see since birth, and the man at the pool of Bethesda had been there every day for three years looking for help. In all these cases, the struggle leading up to God’s greatest victory was long and hard for the ones enduring it, and each had many opportunities to surrender the fight.

My friend, if there’s one thing I want to say to you as this season of difficulty continues to unfold, it’s don’t give up! While it’s easy to look at the state of society and become discouraged, that’s exactly what the devil wants. Though you may behold only a world in chaos, your faithful Heavenly Father still holds it in His Hands, and He is not done with it…or with you. The dreams and visions He has planted in your soul are more important now than ever, and it’s imperative that you don’t lose heart. Even if you feel limited by current tests and trials, endure them with patient expectation and know that your Savior is using them to make you more like Him. Your role in His Kingdom is essential and you will see His blessings and promises come to fruition as long as you keep your hope alive!