A young lady received a multi-million Naira grant. To avoid shock, her pastor was asked to break the news. He carefully asked what she would do if she received such a large amount. She answered, “I will give it to you to support the work of God.” The pastor was so shocked by her response that he nearly fainted. He could not embrace the new.
Friend, you must learn to embrace the new (Isaiah 43:18-19). We are too attached to the old that we unconsciously resist the new. We fight the very answers to our prayers (Acts 12:13-15). We pray for a new job but resist the pressure. We pray for marriage but complain about the demands. Even growth in ministry can feel like too much (2 Corinthians 11:28).
What does “the new” look like to you? Until you have the right revelation, you won’t prepare for it (Proverbs 29:18). While you are asking God for something new, He is making you into someone new. New blessings require a new capacity. God won’t pour new wine into old wineskins. So, focus on becoming the right wineskin, not just asking for the wine (Mark 2:22).
If you don’t want God’s blessing to become a burden, prepare for it (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Don’t let answers to prayers become excuses for spiritual decline. The woman praying for a child today may later cite parenting as the reason for her frequent absence in church. The job you prayed for shouldn’t be the reason your fire goes cold (Romans 12:11).
Embracing the new also means embracing its demands. The Israelites cried to leave Egypt but couldn’t handle the wilderness on the way to Canaan (Numers 11:1-10). Soon, they wished to go back. They wanted the promise without the process. The new season will stretch you, correct you, and grow you.
God is not committed to your comfort. He is committed to His purpose for your life (Luke 12:49-50). Growth and discomfort often come together. The solution to one problem will usually bring a bigger, better problem. That’s not a curse. It is progress. It forces you to expand. What areas of your life need stretching so you can contain what God is bringing (Isaiah 54:1-3)?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria