Ask for deliverance through, not from
It can be a very normal reaction to ask God to take us out of hard times. Yet sometimes, those same hardships are what God uses to shape us into who He created us to be. So, instead of simply asking God to remove us from a situation, let’s try asking Him to bring us through, and use whatever place we find ourselves in for His good and perfect will.
SIDE NOTE - Ezekiel 17 ends with a beautiful promise of Jesus:
22 “ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. 24 All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
“ ‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’ ” (Ezekiel 17:22–24)
Facing hardships often leads us to ask God for a quick escape, but I've found that true growth comes from asking Him to lead us through those difficult moments. This perspective has personally transformed how I handle challenges, turning painful experiences into opportunities for spiritual and personal development. In Ezekiel 17, the imagery of planting a shoot on a lofty mountain that grows into a splendid cedar with sheltering branches beautifully illustrates how God can take our vulnerable moments and grow them into strength and shelter—not just for ourselves but for others too. This helped me see that hardships might be God's way of preparing us for a greater purpose. When I started embracing struggles as a form of deliverance through, rather than from, my faith deepened. I began to understand that God's will is often fulfilled in the process of enduring and learning, not merely in the removal of pain. Others have shared similar experiences where their toughest trials turned into testimony, and recognizing this pattern encouraged me to trust God's timing and purpose. Hope flourishes when we lean into God's promise that He makes the 'dry tree flourish'—a metaphor for revival and growth despite our struggles. Ultimately, this approach invites a shift in mindset: from seeking escape to seeking transformation. By trusting God to bring us through the difficult seasons, we align ourselves with a deeper hope that sustains us beyond our immediate circumstances. It's a comforting reminder that deliverance is not just a rescue mission but a journey of becoming who God created us to be.
Thank you for your Bible lessons. I always benefit from them, & I truly appreciate you!