You may be wondering how when some people pray, everything they ask for seems to turn around for them. So, then how come it's not working for you? I asked myself that question one day. God's answer was simple: ?Turn to Me.? That got me thinking, and I meditated on what exactly it was that He wanted me to do.



I set aside more time than usual to meditate on the Word, praise Him, and express gratitude for all the things He had already pulled me through. I soon realized that I needed to turn away from my circumstances. What I had been doing was praying fervently, all the while looking to see if the condition was changing before my very eyes. My whole focus had been on the gift; not the Giver.

I discovered that God wants you to put your full attention on Him. In fact, despite the turmoil that may be around you, he wants you to praise and thank Him. Your decision to completely turn your back on the circumstances and put your focus completely on Him then becomes the turning point where God can make His presence known to you.

He is the God of turning points. He left the glory of heaven so that you can have eternal life with Him. He took on a human body in order to identify with you, and glorified it through His resurrection. Jesus regularly turned away from the crowds into a quiet place to commune with the Father. The first thing He required of you when you accepted Him as your Savior was to repent, or make a complete u-turn from your former lifestyle. You alone had to make that decision. When you are in a crisis, likewise it is good to turn fully to Him and reaffirm that He is Lord of your life.

God knew your circumstances long before you asked Him for help. He is waiting for you to draw closer to Him, tell Him how much you love Him, and relinquish all your fears, pain and confusion to Him. As you do that, His Peace will engulf you. Gradually your faith will soar to the point that you know that He will come through in His time and in whatever way He deems best for His purpose to be fulfilled in you.

?All things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.? (Rom. 8:28)

No matter what circumstances you are facing right now, there will be a time in the future where you will look back and see the hand of God in them. Although you cannot see it right now, the experience you're going through will become a testimony to God's goodness and a basis for ministry to others. Trials will help mature, humble, strengthen the faith, and eventually equip you to support others going through similar circumstances.

Jesus came to turn things around for those who mourn. He came to give them: ?Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.? (Isa. 61: 3)

He himself was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Yet it was He who bore your grief and carried your sorrow. (Isa. 54: 3-5)

I encourage you not to look on your circumstances and be concerned when nothing seems to be happening. Turn your back to them and enjoy the presence of the Lord. That is your turning point. Your circumstances will soon seem less crucial as you sense the presence of His grace alleviate every difficult step along the way.