“Because you’re not yet taking God seriously”

— Matthew 17:20 MSG

 

“Julle maak nie erns met God nie”

— Matteus 17:20 DB

 

Why hasn’t my life changed? Why haven’t the promises I know God gave me come to pass? I think it’s “‘Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,’ said Jesus. ‘The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle’” (Matthew17:20 MSG). That’s what Jesus said to us.

“Hoekom kon ons nie daardie duiwel uit die seun verdryf nie?” het hulle Hom gevra.“Omdat julle geloof te klein is,” het Hy reguit geantwoord. “Julle maak nie erns met God nie. Weet julle, as julle geloof in Hom maar net so groot soos ’n klein mosterdsaadjie is, sal julle onmoontlike dinge regkry. Dan sal julle enige struikelblok in julle lewe kan oorkom, hoe groot dit ook al is. Julle sal selfs vir hierdie berg kan sĂȘ: ‘Skuif uit die pad uit!’ dan sal dit gebeur. Niks is onmoontlik vir mense wat op God vertrou nie.”’ (Matteus 17:20 DB).

Has God indeed given us the keys, but have we failed to properly use them, just because we haven’t taken Him seriously? “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). What have you “loosed” into your life, and what have you bound—not in some wild, loud prayer, but in a way that will move mountains, by simply speaking it, the same way Jesus did?

Het God inderdaad vir ons die sleutels gegee, maar ons het misluk om hulle behoorlik te gebruik, net omdat ons Hom nie ernstig opgeneem het nie?? “Ek sal aan jou die sleutels van die koninkryk van die hemel gee, en wat jy op die aarde toesluit, sal in die hemel toegesluit bly; en wat jy op die aarde oopsluit, sal in die hemel oopgesluit bly” (Matteus 16:19). Wat het jy in jou lewe oopgesluit, en wat het jy toegesluit—nie in een of ander wilde gebed nie, maar op ‘n manier wat berge versit, deur dit eenvoudig te praat, op dieselfde manier as wat Jesus dit gedoen het?

Are happiness and prosperity, the abundant life Jesus died to give you, reigning free in your life? Or have you, instead, loosed doom, gloom, fear and failure?

Heers geluk en voorspoed, die oorvloedige lewe waarvoor Jesus gesterf het om vir ons te gee, vry in jou lewe? Of het jy, eerder verdoemenis, somberheid, vrees en mislukking losgelaat?

The final hurdle, I believe, is when you and I really and completely walk around, speak about and meditate on what we believe about our situation. Speak to and about our mountain in a manner that will unleash the power that God gave us to cast it into the sea—setting us free to receive His blessings on our lives. We need to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Die finale struiklblok, glo ek, is wanneer ek en jy regtig en heeltemal rondloop, praat oor en mediteer op wat ons oor ons situasie glo. Praat met en oor ons berg op ‘n manier wat die krag wat God sal ontketen om dit in die see tee gooi—en ons vrystel om Sy seĂ«ninge in ons lewens te ontvang. Ons “Maak siekes gesond, wek dooies op, reinig melaatses en dryf bose geeste uit. Julle het dit verniet ontvang, gee dit ook verniet” (Matteus 10:8).  Die Gees wat ons ontvang het, is nie die gees van die wĂȘreld nie, maar die Gees wat van God kom. So weet ons wat God ons uit genade geskenk het” (1 KorintiĂ«rs 2:12).

The power to move mountains, just like salvation or the baptism of the Holy Spirit, is not something that we need to earn. God gave. Being free from debt, pain, worry and sin are all the same to God. None is less achievable with Him, and therefore it is simply offered to us without any of our effort or costing us anything. Who does God include in this offer? Why, “you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy
without money and without cost” (Isaiah 55:1). Will your doubt and fear cause you to stumble over what I believe may be the “final” hurdle, as happened with me?

Die krag om berge te versit, net soos redding en die doop van die heilige Gees, is nie iets wat ons nodig het om te verdien nie. God het gegee. Om vry te wees van skuld, pyn, bekommernis en sonde is alles dieselfde vir God. Niks is minder toereikend met Hom nie, en daarom is dit eenvoudig aan ons geoffer sonder enige van ons pogings of dat dit ons iets kos nie. Wie sluit God in hierdie offer in? Kom, selfs ook diĂ© wat nie geld het nie, kom, koop en eet; ja, kom, koop sonder geld en sonder om te betaal” (Jesaja 55:1). Sal jou twyfel en vrees veroorsaak dat jy oor wat ek glo om die “finale” struikelblok te wees te struikel, soos wat met my gebeur het?

I believe that my final hurdle may also be the most important, because the finish line is finally in sight. However, our final hurdle often is the most difficult, because, for one thing, we are tired. My final hurdle came against me with brute force and unexpectedly, pulling out all the stops and boundaries that I believed protected me.

Ek glo dat my finale struikelblok mag ook die mees belangrikste wees, omdat die wenpaal is finaal in sig. Nietemin, ons finale struikelblok is dikwels die moeilikste, omdat, vir een ding, ons is moeg. My finale struikelblok het met brute krag en onverwags teen my gekom, en alles uitgetrek en grense oorskry wat ek geglo het my beskerm het.

Let me ask you something: Will what you and I naturally see and feel cause us to imagine, believe and speak doom, gloom and discouragement? Or will you and I, instead, see that mountain supernaturally—based entirely on His promises and on the baby steps we have already faithfully taken? The choice is ours. Did you notice that I include myself in this question? I did, because I believe I had seen that my mountain of debt was showing signs of falling, and I want my feelings, now and forever, to reflect my beliefs, rather than the foreboding spirit that is trying to take hold of me.

Laat my jou iets vra: Sal wat ek en jy natuurlik sien en voel veroorsaak dat ons ons verbeel, glo en spreek uit verdoemenis, somberheid en ontmoediging? Of sal ek en jy, eerder, sien dat die berg bonatuurlik—heeltemal op Sy beloftes en op die baba treĂ« wat ons alreeds getrou geneem het gebaseer? Die keuse is ons sin. Het jy agter gekom dat ek myself in hierdie vraag insluit? Ek het, omdat ek glo dat ek gesien het dat daardie berg van skuld tekens wys van val, en ek wil my gevoelens, nou en vir ewig, my oortuiging, eerder as die afskuwelike gees wat probeer om ‘n houvas op my te kry, weerkaats. 

In this chapter I will attempt to share my final hurdle; the question is what form will yours take?

In hierdie hoofstuk sal ek poog om my finale struikelblok te deel; die vraag is watteer vorm sal joune aanneem?

Final?
Finaal?

One after another, the mountains were falling left and right, large and small, and then
out of nowhere, I get a huge, thick envelope—a letter from my ex-husband disguised as if he’d sent a check. The check was actually for my daughter, a reimbursement to me for her car’s tires. “It’s a check,” my youngest daughter said, when she happily handed me the envelope. Did you know that the enemy will gain access to your mind, soul, body and spirit in ways, and when, and from whom you least expect? I knew that, and yet I was relaxed and not really sober in my thinking, due mainly to the fact that recent events had meant that we (my ex-husband, his new wife, and her children) as a group, were getting along famously. Recently, I had even entertained them in my home, not once, but twice, due to the wedding of my son.

Een na die ander, het die berge links en regs geval, groot en klein, en toe...uit nĂȘrens, het ek ‘n groot dik koevert gekry—’n brief van my eks-man en vermom asof hy ‘n tjek gestuur het. Die tjek was eintlik vir my dogter, ‘n terugbetaling vir my vir haar motor se bande. Dit is ‘n tjek,” het my jongste dogter gesĂȘ, toe sy blywend die koevert aan my oorgehandig het. Het jy geweet dat die vyand toegang tot jou verstand, siel, liggaam en gees kry op maniere, en wanneer, en van wie jy dit die minste verwag? Ek het dit geweet, en tog was ontspanne en nie regtig nugter in my denkwyse nie, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van onlangse gebeurtenisse dat ons (my eks-man, sy nuwe vrou, en haar kinders) as ‘n groep, goed oor die weg gekom het. Onlangs, het ek hulle selfs in my huis onthaal, nie een keer nie, maar twee keer, as gevolg van die bruilof van my seun.

 “So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1Peter 5:8). Devour me, he did.

“Laat ons dan nie slaap soos die ander nie, maar laat ons wakker bly en nugter wees” (1 Tessaloniense 5:6). Wees nugter, wees wakker! Julle vyand, die duiwel, loop rond soos 'n brullende leeu, op soek na iemand om te verslind” (1 Petrus 5:8). Verslind my, het hy. 

Without thinking, I began to read a horribly vile, condemning letter, loaded with accusations and terrifying threats. Before I knew what had hit me, I heard the Lord tell me to stop reading it, which I did, but not soon enough—what I’d read had already taken hold and crushed my heart. That night, I tossed and turned, praying without ceasing, asking God for the whys and hows, to know how to answer it. All the while, I was begging Him to allow me to not have to answer, but instead I was seeking a way to, again, bless my enemy.

Sonder om te dink, het ek begin om ‘n aaklige, veroordeelde brief, gelaai met beskuldigings en verskriklike dreigemente gelees. Voor ek geweet het wat my getref het, het ek die Here hoor sĂȘ dat ek moet ophou om dit te lees, wat ek gedoen het, maar nie gou genoeg nie—wat ek gelees het het alreeds ‘n houvas gekry en my hart. Daardie aand, het ek heen en weer rondgerol, en gebid sonder ophou, en vir God gevra vir die waarom en hoe, om te weet hoe om dit te beantwoord. Die heeltyd, het ek Hom gesmeek om my toe te laat om nie die antwoord te hĂȘ nie, maar in plaas daarvan het ek, weer, ‘n manier gesoek om my vyand te seĂ«n.    

Let me veer off for a moment and confess something to you. My flesh wants to take this chapter out of the book. If I’m being honest, my greatest concern, even more than the possibility that I will lose your respect, is that the principle I’m sharing will be misused: used to feed the flesh of those who harbor anger and would love, more than anything, to have a reason, an excuse really, to abuse the principle. And yet, my audience (you dear reader), I believe you to be of the true nature of His bride. Therefore, as His bride, His love has changed your very nature into one of peace, gentleness, goodness and loving those who mistreat you.

Laat my vir ‘n oomblik afdwaal en iets aan jou bieg. My vlees wil hierdie hoofstuk uit die boek uithaal. As ek eerlik is, is my grootste bekommernis, selfs meer as die moontlikheid dat ek jou respek sal verloor, dat die beginsel wat ek deel misbruik sal word: en gebruik word om die vlees van die wat kwade gevoelens het, en wie daarvan sal hou, meer as enigiets, om ‘n rede te hĂȘ, ‘n verskoning regtig, om die beginsel te misbruik. En tog, my gehoor (jy liewe leser), glo ek is die ware natuur van Sy bruid. Daarom, as Sy bruid, het Sy liefde jou einste natuur verander in een van vrede, saggeaardheid, goedheid en om lief te wees vir die wat jou mishandel.

Now, back to the hurdle. All in all, this new battle coming against me raged on for more than a week, mostly due to a battle plan that I was not accustomed to, nor familiar with, and that, therefore, I was more than hesitant to take. Prior to this fateful day, I had come to know, embrace and live a life of non-resistance, agreeing with and blessing my enemies. So, as you will certainly be able to imagine, when the Lord had me respond to what was said in complete honesty, yet boldly and, to my shock, in a way that was cynical and at times sarcastic, I questioned my walk with God, my ability to hear Him correctly, and, in many ways, I panicked and felt as if my world was spinning out of control.

Nou terug na die struikelblok toe. Alles in alles, hierdie nuwe stryd wat teen my gekom het het vir meer as ‘n week gewoed, meesal as gevolg van ‘n strydplan waaraan ek nie gewoond was nie, of bekend mee nie, en dat, daarom, was ek meer as twyfelend om te neem. Voor hierdie noodlottige dag, het ek begin om ‘n lewe van geen teenspoed, instemmend met en om my vyande te seĂ«n, te lewe. So, soos wat jy sekerlik kan voorstel, toe die Here my laat reageer na wat gesĂȘ was in algehele eerlikheid, tog dapper en, tot my skok, op ‘n manier war sinies en sarkasties was, het ek my weg met die Here bevraagteken, my vermoĂ« om Hom korrek te hoor, en op baie maniere, het ek paniekerig geraak en gevoel asof my wĂȘreld buite beheer draai.     

Throughout this ordeal, I began asking God “for a word,” something that I haven’t needed for years. I knew His promises, His ways, His methods and His principles—to the point that the ways of God were hidden deep in my heart, so His Word was always there to guide me. But what do you and I do, when what we sense He is telling us, what we know He is telling us, is contrary to all that is peaceful? Our world shakes, quivers, and it shows up in our bodies, minds and spirits.

Dwarsdeur hierdie beproewing, het ek begin om vir God te vra “vir ‘n woord,” iets wat ek vir jare nie nodig gehad het nie. Ek het Sy beloftes, Sy maniere, Sy metodes en Sy beginsels geken—tot op die punt dat die maniere van God diep in my hart weggesteek was, so Sy Woord was altyd daar om my te lei. Maar wat doen ek en jy, wanneer ons aanvoel dat Hy vir ons sĂȘ, wat ons weet dat wat Hy vir ons vertel, teenstrydig is met alles wat vreedsaam is? Ons wĂȘreld ruk, bewe, en wys in ons liggaam, verstand en gees. 

Yet, God continues to be faithful, unshaken, once again proving, as He said, that “‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8–9 NIV). Though I didn’t understand, and certainly didn’t want to, I obeyed.

Tog, gaan God voort om getrou, onwrikbaar, te wees en bewys weereens dat “‘ My gedagtes is nie julle gedagtes nie, en julle optrede nie soos Myne nie, sĂȘ die Here; soos die hemel hoĂ«r is as die aarde, so is my optrede verhewe bo julle optrede en my gedagtes bo julle gedagtes”’ (Jesaja 55:8-9 Afr 83). Alhoewel ek nie verstaan het nie, en wou sekerlik nie, het ek gehoorsaam.

When I finished responding to the first, long, horrible letter, I let my email sit in my email drafts, not wanting to send it. I desperately needed a sign, a word, and I frantically wanted to know, to understand, why. So, I ventured into my prayer closet, a place I rarely have to visit any more. Long gone were the days when I needed to go there in order to hear His still, small voice; it had been almost two years, since I found that I could hear Him anywhere and everywhere. Yet, when confusion enters the mind, it penetrates the soul, and the spiritual connection experiences interference, largely due to fear.

Toe ek klaar op die eerste, lang , vieslike brief reageer het, het ek die epos in my epos trekels laat sit, ek wou dit nie stuur nie. Ek het desperaat ‘n teken nodig gehad ‘n woord, en ek wou franties weet, om te verstaan, waarom. So, ek het in my gebedshoekie ingegaan, ‘n plek wat ek skaars hoef te besoek. Die dae is lank verby toe ek daarheen moes gaan sodat ek Sy stil, klein stem hoef te hoor; dit was amper twee jaar, vandat ek uitgevind het dat ek Hom enige plek en orals kon hoor. Tog, wanneer verwarring in  jou verstand kom, dring dit die siel binne, en die geestelike konneksie ervaar onderbreking, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van vrees. 

While seeking Him in my prayer closet, rather than giving me answers to my questions, the Lord simply asked me, “Michele, why don’t you want to send the email?” My answer was simple, and it caught me off-guard. It was because I was afraid. I was afraid that if I didn’t simply “agree” to what my ex-husband had said, and agree to his threatening terms, he would seek revenge. To which He asked me, “And what happens when we base what we do on fear?” My answer again was simple, “Our decision is always wrong.”

Terwyl ek Hom in my gebedshoekie nagestreef het, eerder as om vir my antwoode op my vrae te gee, het die Here my eenvoudig gevra, “Michele waarom stuur jy nie die epos nie?” My antwoord was eenvoudig, en dit het my onkant gevang. Dit was omdat ek bang was. Ek was bang dat as ek eenvoudig nie “saamgestem” het oor wat my eks-man gesĂȘ het nie, en instem vir sy dreigende terme nie, dat hy wraak sou neem. Toe vra Hy my, “En wat gebeur wanneer ons wat ons doen op vrees baseer?” My antwoord weer was eenvoudig, “Ons besluit is altyd verkeerd.”

The Lord continued to ask me why else I didn’t want to send it, and that was because I was worried what people would think of me—people like my ex-husband, his wife, my children, and even you, my readers, along with all the RMI’s followers. Yes, He showed me that rather than focusing on what He thought of me, I had turned my attention to what others would think—again, a mistake.

Die Here het voort gegaan om my te vra waarom anders ek dit nie wou stuur nie, en dit was oor wat mense van my sou dink—mense soos my eks-man, sy vrou, my kinders, en selfs julle, my lesers en ook al die HMI volgelinge. Ja, Hy het my gewys dat eerder as om te fokus op wat Hy van my gedink het, het ek my aandag gevestig op wat ander sou dink—weer, ‘n fout.

Coming out of my prayer closet, and now focused on His plan (that made no sense to me), I sent the email.

Om uit my gebedshoekie te kom, en nou gefokus op Sy plan (wat geen sin vir my gemaak het nie), het ek die epos gestuur.

It took about two days to get the reply I dreaded. My whole being, once again, wanted to run and hide, finding a way of escape, simply because I was not doing what I had done before—I wanted to bless; I wanted to agree; I wanted to go with the flow. “I mean, dear Lord, hadn’t I just written about this very principle of non-resistance in the chapter that was just posted on RMI’s website?” Again, I fought the thoughts of what everyone would think, knowing deep down in the recesses of my heart that what mattered is what HE alone thought of me, and to resist Him was worse than resisting this vile evil that kept coming at me.

Dit het omtrent twee dae geneem om die antwoord te kry wat ek gvrees het. Weereens, wou my hele wese, weghardloop en wegkruip, ‘n manier van ontsnapping vind, eenvoudig omdat ek nie gedoen het wat ek voorheen gedoen het nie—ek wou seĂ«n; ek wou saamstem; ek wou saam met die stroom vloei. “Ek bedoel, liewe Here, het ek nie net oor hierdie einste beginsel van geen-weerstand in die hoofstuk wat so pas op HMI se webwerf geplaas was geskryf nie?” Weer, het ek die gedagte geveg van wat almal sal dink, wetend diep binne die diepste skuilhoeke van die hart dat wat saak gemaak het was wat HY alleen van my gdink het, en om Hom teen te staan was erger as om die bose wat aanhoudend na my toe gkom het te weerstaan. 

Throughout this entire battle (that I believe had to be my final hurdle), the Lord was patient and kept giving me a word, here and there, as I asked Him. When I asked God why I was no longer responding in peace and agreement (but only after I’d obeyed and sent the response), I was surprised to read in the little devotional God Calling (that I keep in my prayer closet) this


Dwarsdeur hierdie hele stryd (wat ek geglo het my finale struikelblok was), was die Here geduldig en het aanhoudend, hier en daar vir my ‘n woord gegee, soos wat ek Hom gevra het. Toe ek vir die Here gevra het waarom ek nie meer in vrede en instemming reageer nie (maar net na ek gehoorsaam het en die antwoord gestuur het), ek was verras om in die klein toewyding God Calling (wat ek in my gebedshoekie hou) dit te lees...

 “Listen, listen, I am your Lord. Before Me there is none other. Just trust me in everything. Help is here all the time. The difficult way is nearly over, but you have learnt it in lessons you could learn in no other way.

“Luister, luister, ek is jou Here. Voor My is daar geen ander nie. Vetrou net op my in alles. Hulp is die heeltyd huer. Die moeilikheid is amper verby, maar jy het dit in lesse geleer wat jy op geen ander manier kon leer nie.

 “The Kingdom of heaven suffered violence, and it is the violent who take it by force.”

“Die Koninkryk van die hemel het geweld gelei, en dit is die geweldadiges wat dit met geweld neem.”

Wrest from me, by firm and simple trust and persistent prayer, the treasures of My Kingdom. Such wonderful things are coming to you, Joy— Peace— Assurance— Security— Health— Happiness— Laughter.

Ruk weg van my, deur ferm en eenvoudige vertroue en aanhoudende gebed, die skatte van My Koninkryk. Sulke wonderlike dinge kom na jou toe, Vreugde— Vrede— Sekuriteit— Gesondheid— Geluk— Gelag.

Claim big, really big things now. Remember nothing is too big. Satisfy the longing of My Heart to give. Blessing, abundant blessing, on you both now and always. Peace.

Eis groot, regte groot dinge nou. Onthou niks is te groot nie. Bevredig die verlange van My Hart om te gee. Seëninge, oorvloedige seëninge, op julle albei en altyd. Vrede.

After the second email that I responded to (each paragraph, with sarcastic, yes, cynical responses, having no idea where they were coming from)—I panicked and asked God to help me, please, to understand, since I knew this was “not right,” especially when I actually mocked my ex-husband’s accusations. The Lord then showed me a vision of the powerful Elijah, exhibited when he was high atop the city—mocking the Baal priests. When I went to look it up, I first stumbled onto the book of Second Kings, entitled, “Judgment upon Ahab’s House.”

Na die tweede epos waarop ek geantwoord het (elke paragraaf, was sarkasties, ja, siniese antwoorde, geen idee waar vandaan hulle kom nie)—ek het paniekerig geraak en vir God gevra om my, asseblief, te help om te verstaan, aangesien ek geweet het dat dit “nie reg,” was nie spesiaal toe ek eintlik my ek-man se aantyings gespot het. Die Here het toe vir my ‘n visie gewys van die magtige Elia, uitgestal toe hy hoog bo-op die stad was—en die Baal priesters gespot het. Toe ek gegaan het om dit op te soek, het ek op die boek van Konings afgekom, getitel, “Oordeel oor Ahab se Huis.”  

Chapter 10, Verse 10 said something incredible, “Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the LORD has done what He spoke through His servant Elijah.” This was almost identical to what the Lord had spoken to me two years ago when my ex-husband had left. I should have known it was actually written in the Bible.

Hoofstuk 10, Vers 10 het iets ongelooflik gesĂȘ, “Erken dan dat nie 'n enkele ding wat die HERE oor die huis van Agab gesĂȘ het, onvervul sal bly nie. Die HERE het alles gedoen wat Hy deur sy dienaar Elia gesĂȘ het.” Dit was amper identies tot wat die Here twee jaar gelede vir my gesĂȘ het toe my eks-man weg is. Ek moes geweet het dat dit einlik in die Bybel geskryf was.

Yet, the verse that helped me the most was the last battle, the final hurdle that Elijah was to overcome, as described in First Kings under the heading, “God or Baal.” “It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them [the prophets of Baal] and said, ‘Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god [Baal whom they served]; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened’” (1 King 18:27). Was it Elijah, or was it God who spoke through Elijah?

Tog, die vers wat my die meeste gehelp het was die laaste stryd, die finale struikelblok wat Elia moes oorkom, soos wat in Konings Een onder die opskrif, “God of Baal” beskryf is. “Teen die middag het Elia hulle [die profete van Baal] begin spot: “Roep harder! Hy is mos 'n god! [Baal wie hulle gdien het.] Miskien is hy diep in gedagte of gou bietjie uit, of op reis, of dalk slaap hy en moet hy eers wakker word!”’ (1 Konings 18:27). Was dit Elia, of was dit God wie deur Elia gepraat het?

 “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!’ He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury” (Psalm 2:1–5).

“Waarom is daar onrus onder die volke, waarom smee die nasies planne – en dit tevergeefs? Die konings van die aarde is in opstand, die leiers span saam teen die HERE en teen sy gesalfde en sĂȘ: “Kom ons maak ons vry en gooi hulle juk af!” Hy wat in die hemel woon, lag hulle uit, die Here spot met hulle. Hy spreek hulle aan in sy toorn, in sy gramskap jaag Hy hulle op loop” (Psalms 2:1-5).

The way I was responding was not in a manner that I felt comfortable with, because I’m so comfortable living “Peacefully.” But was my peace at any cost?

Die wyse waarop ek reageer het was nie ‘n manier waarmee ek gemaklik gevoel het nie, omdat ek so gemaklik was deur om “Vreedsaam” te lewe. Maar was my vrede teen enige koste?

While speaking to my children, the Lord showed me the headlines that I had read as a teenager, which covered the front page of every newspaper—“America Held Hostage”—which was about one of our US presidents, who was mocked at the time, saying he a coward, because he allowed this atrocity, by giving in to the threats imposed. As I read it, I heard God ask me if being a coward is what I would choose for my children or the women who I was hoping to encourage. Or, would I instead encourage others, by my own example, to move fearlessly toward the battle? What would I choose, if I had to make a choice?

Terwyl ek met my kinders gepraat het, het die Here vir my die hoofopskrifte gewys wat ek as ‘n tiener gelees het, wat die hoofbladsy van elke koerant gedek het— “Amerika Gyselaar Gehou”—wat oor een van ons V.S.A presidente was, wat destyds gespot was, gesĂȘ het dat hy ‘n lafaard was, omdat hy hierdie gruweldaad togelaat het, deur in te gee tot die dreigemente wat opgelĂȘ was. Soos wat ek dit gelees het, het ek gehoor dat God my vra of om ‘n lafaard te wees  is wat ek vir my kinders of die vrouens wie ek gehoop het om aan te moedig sou kies. Of, sou ek eerder ander aanmoedig, deur my eie voorbeeld, om vreesloos na die stryd toe te beweeg? Wat sou ek kies as ek ‘n keuse moes maak?  

It was then that the Lord showed me something I had never seen before. During my reply to my ex-husband  (when I said that I would no longer comply with any more of his threats regarding what I could publish or post on the RMI website—which he was reading daily—so it would be futile for him to threaten me again), that’s when I realized that I had unknowingly continued to allow my ex-husband to run the ministry God gave me—and even to control portions of RMI—that’s how far reaching my complying to threats could go!

Dit was toe dat die Here vir my iets gewys het wat ek nooit vantevore gesien het nie. Gedurende my antwoord aan my eks-man (toe ek gesĂȘ het dat ek nie langer gaan voldoen aan enige een van sy dreigemente aangaande wat ek kon publiseer of op die die HMI webwerf plaas nie—wat hy daagliks gelees het—so dit sou futiel vir hom wees om my weer te dreig), dit is toe wat ek besef het dat ek onwetend voort gegaan he om my eks-man toe te laat om die bediening wat God vir my gegee het te bestuur—en om selfs dele van HMI te beheer—dit is hoe verreikend my voldoening aan dreigemente kon gaan!

Something else I’d like to share
several years ago, I heard something that the author John Bevere said while speaking at our church, and it made a deep impression on me. He said, “If you do not use the God-given authority that He gave you, someone else will take it and use it against you!”

Iets anders waarvan ek sal hou om te deel...verskeie jare gelede, het ek iets gehoor wat die skrywer John Bevere gesĂȘ het terwyl hy by ons kerk gepraat het, en ‘n diep indruk op my gemaak het. Hy het gesĂȘ, “As jy nie jou God-gegewe gesag wat Hy jou gegee het gebruik nie, sal iemand anders dit neem en dit teen jou gebruik!”

This is not to say that I had done the wrong thing, when I didn’t fight my ex-husband, when he blocked my eCommerce website almost immediately after the divorce (or it may even have been before the divorce was final. I can’t remember now.) Nor was it that God was telling me that I should have called the police and had my ex-husband arrested (as so many of my friends and family members had begged me to do), when he came to my warehouse while I was traveling and destroyed cases of RMI’s books, devotionals and videotapes that I bought to sell. No, it was not a mistake, but now things were different—this, as I said, I believe and hope is my final hurdle that was looming in front of me.

Dit is nie te sĂȘ dat ek die verkeerde ding gedoen het, toe ek nie teen my eks-man baklei het, toe hy my eCommerce webwerf geblok het amper onmiddellik na die egskeiding (of dit mag dalk wees voor die egskeiding finaal was. Ek kan nie nou onthou nie). Nog minder was dit dat God vir my vertel het dat ek die polisie moes geskakel het en my eks-man laat arresteer het (soos wat so baie vriende en familielede my gesmeek het om te doen), toe hy na my pakhuis toe gekom het terwyl ek op reis was en en koffers van HMI se boeke, toewydings en video opnames, wat ek gekoop het om te verkoop vernietig het. Nee, dit was nie ‘n fout nie, maar nou was dinge anders—dit, soos wat ek gesĂȘ het, glo en hoop ek is my finale struikelblok wat voor my opgedoem het.  

There was another thing the Lord showed me that shocked me. It concerned my new friendship with my ex-husband and his wife (and their children), which is why I was caught so off-guard by this vile letter. Again, while asking for “a word, just a word,” since I was so sure and terrified that I had fallen out of favor or intimacy with the Lord, I was not understanding why I responded the way that I did to his letters full of accusations and threats, rather than just ignore or agree.

Daar was nog ‘n ding wat die Here vir my gewys het wat my geskok het. Dit het my nuwe vriendskap met my eks-man en sy vrou (en hulle kinders) aangegaan, wat is waarom ek onkant gevang was deur hierdie vieslike brief. Weer, terwyl ek vir ‘‘n woord, net ‘n woord,” gevra het aangesien ek so seker en angsbevange was dat ek uit vrede of intimiteit met die Here geval het, ek het nie verstaan waarom ek op die manier wat ek op sy briewe vol aantygings en dreigemente reaeer het nie, eerder as om net te ignoreer of in te stem.

It was then that I simply opened my Bible to see “Alliance Displeases God.” While reading on, it stated in 2 Chronicles 20:35, “After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing.” This was done by the same king who had earlier prayed, “Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us” (2 Chronicles 20:9).

Dit was toe dat ek eenvoudig my Bybel opgemaak het om te sien dat “Vennootskap maak God Ontevrede.” Terwyl ek daaroor gelees het, het dit in 2 Kronieke 20:35 verklaar, “Later het koning Josafat van Juda 'n vennootskap aangegaan met koning Ahasia van Israel, 'n goddelose man.” Dit was gedoen deur dieselfde koning wie vroeĂ«r gebid het, “ ‘As U 'n ramp oor ons bring, of 'n oorlog om ons te straf, of pes, of hongersnood, sal ons voor hierdie tempel kom staan, voor U, want u Naam is in hierdie tempel, en ons sal na U om hulp roep uit ons nood. Hoor dan en help ons!” (2 Kronieke 20:9).

This verse then led me to remember one of my favorite passages of the Bible, when King Asa makes the same foolish mistake by seeking the friendship with his enemies, rather than trusting God to deliver. “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the whole earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Die vers het my gelei om een van my gunsteling verse van die Bybel te onthou, toe Koning Asa dieselfde dwase fout gemaak het deur vriendskap met sy vyande te soek, eerder as om op God te vertrou om uit te lewer. “Die Here het sy oĂ« oral op die aarde sodat Hy diĂ© kan help wat met hulle hele hart op Hom vertrou. Maar nou het jy dwaas opgetree en daarom sal jy van nou af oorlog hĂȘ” (2 Kronieke 16:9).

Yet, even seeing these verses that came to mind instantly each time I asked the Lord for confirmation that what I was doing was His plan, I still felt unsure, since the way I have been living for the past sixteen years of my life has been the exact opposite of what I was doing now. For more than a decade, my very nature has been transformed; my whole being has been made new. “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelations 21:5). “And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 11:19).

Tog, selfs om hierdie verse te sien wat in my verstand opgekom het elke keer wat ek die Here gevra het vir bevestiging dat wat ek besig was om te doen Sy plan was, het ek nog steeds onseker gevoel, omdat die manier wat ek die afgelope sestien jaar van my lewe geleef het die teenoorgestelde was van wat ek nou besig was om te doen. Vir meer as ‘n dekade, is my eie natuur hervorm; my hele wese is nuut gemaak. “Kyk, Ek maak alles nuut.” (Die Openbaring 21:5).  Ek sal hulle 'n ander hart gee en 'n nuwe gees onder hulle laat posvat, Ek sal die kliphart uit hulle liggaam verwyder en hulle 'n hart van vleis gee” (EsegiĂ«l 11:19).

While writing this chapter, the Lord brought to mind and led me to read a verse that most of us know, but I have never actually quoted. It is, from the wisest man, Solomon, when he tries to explain that there is a time for everything. He says,

Terwyl ek hierdie hoofstuk geskryf het, het die Here dit tot my gedagtenis gebring om ‘n vers te lees wat meeste van ons ken, maar wat ek nooit aangehaal het nie. Dit is, van die wyste man, Salamo, wanneer hy probeer om te verduidelik dat daar ‘n tyd vir alles is. Hy sĂȘ

 “There is an appointed time for everything.

And there is a time for every event under heaven—

A time to give birth and a time to die;

         A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

A time to kill and a time to heal;

          A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to weep and a time to laugh;

 A time to mourn and a time to dance.

A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

A time to search and a time to give up as lost;

 A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;

 A time to be silent and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate;

A time for war and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

 

"Elke ding het sy vaste tyd,

elke ding in hierdie wĂȘreld het sy tyd:

daar is 'n tyd om gebore te word, 'n tyd om te sterwe,

'n tyd om te plant, 'n tyd om plante uit te trek,

'n tyd om 'n lewe te neem, 'n tyd om 'n lewe te red,

'n tyd om af te breek, 'n tyd om te bou,

'n tyd om te huil, 'n tyd om te lag, 'n tyd om te treur,

'n tyd om van blydskap te dans,

'n tyd om klippe weg te gooi, 'n tyd om hulle bymekaar te maak,

'n tyd om te omhels, 'n tyd om weg te bly van omhelsing af,

'n tyd om aan te skaf, 'n tyd om te laat wegraak,

'n tyd om te spaar, 'n tyd om weg te gooi,

'n tyd om te skeur, 'n tyd om toe te werk,

'n tyd om stil te bly, 'n tyd om te praat,

'n tyd om lief te hĂȘ, 'n tyd om te haat,

'n tyd vir oorlog, 'n tyd vir vrede." (PREDIKER 3:1-8)

Just as I had shared time and again in all my books, a good way to see if what you are doing (or you are about to do) is of God, is to ask yourself if it feels good to your flesh, or, does it need the help of the Holy Spirit to carry it out? Without a doubt, my flesh cringed at the thought of saying anything remotely close to what I wrote in each of my email replies.

Net oos wat ek keer op keer in al my boeke gedeel het, ‘n goeie manier om te sien of wat jy doen (of wat jy op die punt staan om te doen) van God af is, is om jouself te vra of dit goed voel vir jou vlees, of het dit die hulp van die Heilige Gees nodig om uit te voer? Sonder twyfel, het my vlees ineengekrimp met die gedagte om enigiets naastenby te sĂȘ teenoor wat ek in elke een van my epos antwoorde geskryf het.

Though we are all born with a sinful, angry nature, once refined (a process that often takes years, as it did with me), that person is no longer the same. For too many of you, telling your ex-husband off would feel great! And, as I said, it is really not about what we do, since many of us don’t say something, due to fear or because we worry about what other people would think of us.

Ahoewel ons almal gebore is met ‘n sondige natuur, sodra dit verfyn is (‘n proses wat dikwels jare neem, soos wat dit met my gedoen het), is daardie persoon nie meer dieselfde nie. Vir te veel van julle, om jou eks-man af te sĂȘ sou goed voel! En, soos wat ek gesĂȘ het, dit is regtig nie oor wat ons doen nie, aangesien baie van ons nie iets sĂȘ nie, as gevolg van vrees of omdat ons bekommerd is oor wat ander mense van ons sou dink.

What the Lord is showing all of us is simply this: what we do, or what someone else does, cannot be judged by what we see. That’s why we must never judge anyone or anything that a person does, because what we don’t see (the reason behind their actions) is really what counts. It is what God sees, and how He tests us, to see if we are real. Or maybe it is more so that He can show us what we are really all about. “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts” (Proverbs 17:3).

Wat die Here vir almal van  ons wys is eenvoudig dit: wat ons doen, of wat iemand anders doen, kan nie geoordeel word deur wat ons sien nie. Dit is waarom ons nooit iemand of enigiets moet oordeel deur wat ‘n persoon doen nie, omdat wat ons nie sien nie (die rede agter hull aksies) is wat regtig tel. Dit is wat God sien, en hoe Hy ons toets, om te sien of ons eg is. Of miskien is dit meer sodat Hy ons kan wys waaroor dit it alles gaan. “ Silwer word in 'n smeltkroes gelouter en goud in 'n oond, maar dit is die HERE wat die gesindheid toets” (Spreuke 17:3).

Initially, I didn’t want to respond. Then, once written, I didn’t want to send it, mainly due to fear and concern about what others would think of me. Surely, I believed myself to have left these shortcomings long ago, but they are still present in my life, and both are character flaws that will hold me back from the place and position where God has called me. The same goes for anything God continues to bring to the surface in your life.

In die begin wou ek nie reageer. Toe, nadat ek dit geskryf het, wou ek dit nie stuur nie, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van vrees en bekommernis oor wat ander van my sou dink. Sekerlik, het ek  geglo dat ek hierdie tekortkominge lank terug agter gelaat het, maar hulle is nog steeds teenwoordig in my lewe, en albei is karakter foute wat my sal terughou van die plek en posissie waartoe God my geroep het. Dieselfde gaan vir enigiets wat God voortgaan om na die oppervlak van jou lewe te bring.    

These are, hopefully, the final hurdles that you need to get over, in order to move your mountain. But once you get over this, you will find you are left with emotions, those feelings, which must be channeled toward the right frequency of energy that will ultimately make or break your mountain.

Hierdie is, hopelik, die finale struikelblokke wat jy nodig het om oor te kom, sodat jy jou berg kan versit. Maar sodra jy daaroor kom, sal jy vind dat jy agtergelaat is met emosies, daardie gevoelens, wat na die regte frekwensie of energie gekanaliseer moet word wat uitermatig jou berg sal maak of breek.

But before going to the next chapter, let me share just one more thing. For you to come to the place where you can move a mountain, you have to come right up to it. When you are miles from the final hurdle, the height and magnitude of your mountain may look large, but not the way it does when you are standing at the foot of it. Standing there, at the very bottom, you look up to see your mountain is HUGE. Standing there, you see there is no other way around it; it has to move.

Maar voor jy na die volgende hoofstuk toe gaan, laat my net nog een ding deel. Vir jou om tot op die plek te kom waar jy jou berg kan versit, moet jy reg op na dit toe kom. Wanneer jy myle van die finale struikelblok af is, mag die hoogte en grootte van jou berg groot lyk, maar nie die manier wat dit doen wanneer jy aan die voet daarvan staan nie. Daar waar, jy aan die voet staan, kyk jy op na jou berg om te sien hoe ENORM jou berg is. Deur daar te staan, sien jy daar is geen ander manier daarom nie; dit moet versit.

God purposely brings us smack up in front of it: there’s no money left in your account; there’s no possible cure; there’s no way to contact your loved-one—the impossibilities are endless, and you are out of ideas to know how to deal with it.

God bring ons aspris reg voor dit: daar is geen geld oor in jou rekening nie; daar is geen moontlike genesing nie; daar is geen manier om jou geliefde te kontak nie—die onmoontlikhede is eindeloos, en jy is uit idees oor hoe om daarmee af te handel. 

For the wicked man to be no more, the wickedness needed (and still needs) to increase. There is no other way. “Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there” (Psalm 37:10). “How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man has no knowledge, nor does a stupid man understand this: That when the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore” (Psalm 92:5–7).

Vir die goddelose om nie meer te wees nie, moes die goddeloosheid (en moet nog steeds) vermeerder. Daar is geen ander manier nie. “Nog 'n rukkie en daar sal geen goddelose meer wees nie; 'n mens sal hom soek waar hy was, maar hy sal nie daar wees nie” (Psalms 37:10). U groot dade, Here, het my baie bly gemaak, ek wil juig oor wat U gedoen het. Groots is alles wat U doen, HERE, ondeurgrondelik u gedagtes. Wie dit nie besef nie, is 'n dom mens, wie dit nie insien nie, is sonder verstand: Al is die goddelose voorspoedig, al floreer almal wat onreg doen, hulle sal vir goed uitgewis word” (Psalms 92:5-7).

This is the way God works—He purposely allows everything to become impossible. He also waits until the last moment to move: didn’t He wait until the last moment with the honeymoon that was going to be lost, only to “at the last minute” turn it into the blessing of a romantic wedding and honeymoon for my son and his fiancĂ©?

Dit is die manier wat God werk—Hy laat aspris toe dat alles onmoontlik word. Hy wag ook tot die laaste oomblik om te beweeg: het Hy nie gewag tot die laaste oomblik met die wittebrood wat velore sou wees nie, net om “op die laaste minuut” dit in ‘n seĂ«n van ‘n romantiese troue en witebrood vir my seun en sy verloofde te verander nie?

All of you have your own “last minute” and “things got worse” testimonies, so rehearse them now. And if you tend to struggle regularly, be sure to write them down, and, better yet, submit your praise like I do to RMIEW’s website, so the whole world will know how “nothing is impossible with God”—not even the final, unexpected, hurdle.

Almal van julle het julle eie “laaste minuut” en “dinge het erger geraak” getuienisse, so oefen hulle nou. En as jy neig om gereeld te sukkel, wees seker om hulle neer te skryf, en, nog beter, dien jou lof in soos wat ek doen aan RMIEW se webwerf, sodat die hele wĂȘreld kan weet hoe “niks met God onmoontlik is nie”—nie eens die finale, onverwagte, struikelblok nie.

Joernaal

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