I usually want to stand out for Christ wherever I am, but at the close of that day, I found that I had become associated with them. An onlooker would have believed that we were a group with the same beliefs, manner of words, and lifestyle. By sitting and laughing, I had become lost in that crowd; I was like any other man there.

This event immediately reminded me of Samson and the words he said to Delilah.

Judges 16:17 – He told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. (KJV)

God made Samson different: he was powerful; he was a Nazarite — set apart. He had been separated and differentiated from other men both in spiritual consecration and physical prowess right from the womb. Samson knew that he wasn't like other men, and he clearly knew the consequences of losing what made him different.

There were conditions for him to be and remain a Nazarite. His mother must stay away from uncleanness and remain sober while carrying the child in her womb, and the child's hair must never be cut.

The Philistine lords offered Delilah a reward if she could find out the source of Samson's strength in order to overpower him. Eventually, he sadly lost what made him different, and he was publicly afflicted.

My dear friends, Christ in your life makes you different: at home as a family, as a neighbour, as an employer or employee, as a member of your community, as a member of whatever gathering you are in. If you lose Christ, you lose what makes you stand out.

In a bid to "feel among", to become "one of them", don't lose what God has deposited in you. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't relate with people or that you should cut yourself off from everyone, but don't exchange your glory for gain, your power from God for pleasure, or your talent for trends.

If you have become like any other man and woman, or you are almost there, rejoice in that your power in God can be restored, like Samson, whose power briefly returned at the end of his life. Hold fast to what God has given you. If you have thrown Christ out of your life, God is merciful: come back to Him.

Revelation 3:11 – Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (KJV)

Prayer: Lord, help me not lose the gift of being a light to my generation. Help me to stand out for You. Amen.

A few months back, I was working on a possible breakthrough to help me change professions, but it failed. I was broken, unhappy, and in my despair, I told my uncle, "I feel God is blocking my way." My uncle gently rebuked me before encouraging me that I should be grateful to God in bad times instead of complaining.

Listening to what he said brought the picture of Job to my mind. In one day, he lost all his belongings and his beloved children. In the midst of all this, Job never opened his mouth to say, "God is blocking my way" or "God is wicked." No, not at all! All he did at that moment was to fall to the ground in total humility and submission, and there he worshipped God.

I felt so ashamed at that moment. Had I gone through a quarter of Job's tribulations? Had I reached the level where I lost everyone dear to me, or the level where everyone praising me abandons me, and friends turn to accusers? And I had the audacity to say that God is blocking my way! I had to ask God for forgiveness at that moment.

Then, I started to praise God for all the things He has done, and I discovered that once we begin to praise instead of complain, we find reasons to be grateful, even in the darkest of times.

My dear friends, Job is a biblical example of how we should react in the worst situations. Let us remember what the Scriptures say:

Romans 15:4 – For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (KJV)

God expects gratefulness from us at all times. Gratefulness brings strength; it brings peace of mind; it brings recovery and restoration; and best of all, it brings a deeper understanding of God and a deepening of our relationship with Him.

So, no matter how bad your situations seem to be, or if it looks like there is no way out, or you feel that you always pray before you take a step but it doesn't always seem to work out, don't curse, accuse, or blame God. Just be grateful and praise Him. Appreciation is an application for more! Praise Him and see what else He will do!

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, help us to be up and grateful even in the darkest of times. Amen.

I greeted him and asked if all was well. His simple reply was a Scripture reference. I dug out my Bible and read the verse:

Luke 9:58 – And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (KJV)

The man further explained that he had brought his daughter — a freshman — to school for the new session, and after he had gotten her settled, he had nowhere to stay. He probably didn't have money to book a room at a hotel.

Hearing that, I made a call to the student pastor, and we made arrangements for him to pass the night. I believed that he must have prayed to God for help, and God answered him.

Friends, God said that we should just ask Him. In challenging situations, some people cry, while others scream, curse God, or just become hopeless. But Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7 KJV) This is His promise to us, His children.

If we ask people for help, they might dismiss us or ignore us, or not be able to help due to several reasons or their own powerlessness. But if we ask our compassionate Christ for help, He will never leave us stranded. Where our strength stops, God's begins. God is constant.

I don't know the situation in which you find yourself. Are you sitting in one place, helpless? Why not ask God for help like blind Bartimaeus? (Mark 10:46-52) Or has the prime of your life left you sitting hopelessly begging at the Beautiful Gate like that lame man? (Acts 3:2-8) Don't depend on the strength of man any more. Instead, with a sincere heart, just ask God for help, and He will send a helper.

My dear friends, all hope is not lost! Life is not over! God has not forsaken you! Just ask Him for help.

James 5:16b – The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (KJV)

Prayer: Lord, help us to ask You for what we need. And as we ask You, we pray that You would send helpers in times like this. Amen.

During my study of the Scripture, I noticed examples of hospitality. In Genesis 18, Abraham welcomed three strangers into his home to feed them. In Genesis 19, Lot saw two strangers at the gates of Sodom, and he rushed to greet them and invited them to his home to feed them. This was a custom of the Middle East that Lot had probably learnt from Abraham his uncle, and Abraham had probably learnt it from his father — a legacy of hospitality. In both these cases, the strangers were angels.

Abraham and Lot were men who were hospitable, kind, and welcoming. They were both blessed for their welcoming attitudes. Abraham received a confirmation of God's promises, while Lot was saved with his family (with the exception of his wife).

Unfortunately, we are presently living in times when people seem to have forgotten and thrown away this legacy of hospitality passed on from the patriarchs of the faith. We pass needy strangers every day, not caring to lend a helping hand. We seem to live in our own little bubble of problems while forgetting that Abraham was battling with barrenness and Lot was dealing with raising children in a corrupt land. Still, they decided to be hospitable.

We might give excuses that people are not to be trusted, that they are not dependable or grateful, that they might take advantage of us, or that they might disappoint us after we helped them. But let us remember Lot, who helped strangers in a city as corrupt and defiled as Sodom.

When Jesus was talking about the day of judgment, He said that people will ask Him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?" He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." (Matthew 25:44-45 NIV)

Hebrews 13:2 – Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (NIV 2011)

We don't need to search for strangers to help; they are everywhere, and God blesses those who will help. Have you overlooked hospitality? Have you forgotten that the basis of Christianity is to help others? Then this a clarion call of change.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, put in us the spirit of love and hospitality. Amen.

A while back, I went out to get something not too far from home. At the supermarket, I suddenly felt weak. Now, I must have you understand that I am a fully healthy young man. I got my groceries, and walking back home, I felt my strength suddenly desert me. My legs went weak, my stomach felt like it suddenly deflated, and I felt dizzy, like I were going to faint.

I had to find somewhere at the side of the road to just rest. On my head, I poured a sachet (a plastic bag) of cold water — which was a part of what I went to buy — and I rested till I got back a semblance of my strength. That experience has become a startling realization of our body's ability to betray us when we least expect. This is what I call, "The Great Betrayal".

Ezekiel 7:17 – All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. (KJV)

Looking at this experience and confirming it with Scripture, I have realized that this reality is inescapable. Old age would take away strength and agility, and sometimes, even coherence, and our most cherished memories may fade. This is a sad reality.

But — of course, there is a "but" — in all this seemingly sad reality, I have discovered that though our strength may suddenly fail us and our bodies may betray us, Jesus will never fail or betray us. Are you incapacitated? Do you feel betrayed, thinking that God has taken all good things from you? Maybe you feel frustrated at your own incapability. Do you feel angry that people around you are freely enjoying what God seems to have denied you? Or are you angry with God, asking Him, "Why did You give me this, only to snatch it from me?"

I can ask a thousand more questions, but most of all, do you feel deserted and betrayed by God? He has said in today's Scripture verse that He would never leave you or forsake you. Never!

So, as your strength deserts you and memories fade, as your heart is gripped with some griefs, I want you to declare boldly, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear [what might happen to me]." (Hebrews 13:6b KJV)

Please continue to trust and believe God. He loves you and cares about you.

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to trust in You, even when all else seems to fail. Amen.

At these programs, I tried to etch deep into my mind the faces of those whom I have known, because there would never again be any gathering on earth in which every single one of us would be present, without anyone missing. If we gathered for a reunion, a wedding, et cetera, still, we would never be complete. For some reason, one or another would be absent.

However, there will be a time when no one will be missing:

Revelation 20:11-12 – And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it … And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God … and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (KJV)

Every single person who ever lived, regardless of their beliefs and position, will stand before God. Meanwhile, I picture so many human beings drifting like boats in this sea called life, totally unaware of the judgment day coming. Some boats are tethered together by the bonds of family, community, benefits, purpose, and even religion. But eventually, those bonds break at some point in life, and even those bonds that do stand the test of time will break at death. Then, all those boats, with you and me in them, will move one by one to their own individual destination.

Now, there are two possible final destinations for each and every person: heaven or hell. I don't know how you are living your life, either secretly or openly, but I just want you to know two things. First, there are those whom time, death, or circumstances have taken from us. We will all see each other again in front of the great white throne. But many of those people will stand there pondering their life and what is to come. Secondly, from that throne, we will all go alone either to heaven or to hell, our final destination, depending on how we have lived our lives, and whether we trusted in Christ as our Saviour.

Think about it! Meditate on this! Are you going to be reunited forever in heaven, smiling and rejoicing as you behold the beauty and glory that God has prepared for you? Or would you be screaming, weeping, and wailing towards an eternal doom? If so, please just go on your knees and ensure that your way is right with God.

If heaven is already your final destination, pray for more grace to stand till the end. Also, tell others about the great white throne judgment day that is coming.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live lives that lead towards the heavenly reunion so that we may smile together on that great day. Amen.

Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (KJV)

In this verse, God assures us that the results of waiting upon Him are not just renewal, but a dramatic elevation in both strength and energy. He says that we will be neither weary nor fainting. So, the question is: why did my situation seem like the exact opposite of God's promises? It was because I didn't understand that in God's waiting room, I was in His presence, and "in [His] presence is fulness of joy". (Psalm 16:11b KJV) King Solomon gives us a perfect example of what to do in God's waiting room:

Ecclesiastes 9:7 – Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. (KJV)

This Scripture does not mean living carelessly or becoming drunk while trying to forget yourself. It simply means that you shouldn't look like you're having problems; don't allow your problems to define you; never be afraid to take time off to take care of yourself. Your physical and mental health, and the whole of your being, are important to God.

Are you one who has been going through difficult times, perhaps waiting for God's intervention for years whilst standing on His promises? I want to encourage you not to let yourself go. Don't stop eating, laughing, interacting with others, using your talents, touching lives, impacting your world, and telling others that God loves them and that He answers prayers. It might be hard, but once you are in God's waiting room, the best thing to do is to relax and trust in Him.

Are you in God's waiting room? Do you feel like this Scripture is talking about you? Are you the individual who, against hope, believes in God? Please take Ecclesiastes 9:7 as something that you can do while being profitable to God and man, and Isaiah 40:31 will be fulfilled in your life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, give us strength in Your waiting room, anoint us with the oil of gladness, and answer our prayers. Amen.