The truth is that there are many different ways God uses to get our attention but in this article, we will only be discussing one of them; one that I can say is common to all and I have personally witnessed, which is through trials (problems and situations) that we face. I know! I know! That’s not what you want to hear but it is the truth. Let me explain.

Sometimes God may have repeatedly attempted to get our attention through other means or even through less severe trials but to no avail; or at times we end up giving Him our attention for a little while but then retreat back to our old ways, especially when the problem had been resolved. (It’s almost as if we are saying, well my problem is resolved, I guess I don’t need You God anymore). If we sit back and actually reflect on our past, we would begin to see all those times that we have missed God beckoning for us to draw closer to Him. How do I know? Well, because that was exactly what happened to me.

It was through a major storm in my life that God was able to get my full, undivided attention once and for all. This time around, He made sure that I didn’t miss it in any way shape or form. He made sure to bring me to a place of isolation, far from the reach of any form of distractions, family and friends, as well as from the enemy.

You see, God allows or ordains a problem to come our way not to destroy us or damage us, but rather to draw us closer to Himself by bringing us to the end of ourselves. It was in the place of isolation with my full attention on God that I came across a scripture that changed my whole outlook of the situation. It was 2 Corinthians 7:8-11. It says:

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

You see, this storm caused me to sit down and truly evaluate my relationship with the Lord and realize that I am nothing without Him. It brought me to a place where I began to look back at my past and pin point every time, well almost every time, that God attempted to get my attention through several different things that happened to me or in my life, and guess what? It will do the same to you. God will use that time to begin to work in you, transforming you from the inside out. He will use this time to mold and shape you into who He has created you to be. It’s in this time that your purpose and calling becomes revealed or made clearer to you. Whatever you may be facing right now, I want to encourage you to use this time wisely as God intends for you to do. Allow God to take you through the process. Don’t waste this opportunity to get closer to God. Answer His call; give Him your full, undivided attention!

I know it is not easy to do. The honest truth is that I didn’t do any of it myself. It was actually the power of the Holy Spirit that was at work in me. He did all of it in me and He will do the same in you! The bible says it is God who causes us to will and to act.

“For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure” Philippians 2:13 (AMP).

I encourage you to pray and ask God to help you in the times of facing those storms to will and to act according to His plan and purpose for you. That way, you are sure that time of passing through the storm would not go wasted and unproductive in you and in your life. That is one prayer that I know God will most definitely answer because you would have prayed according to His will (see 1 John 5:14). Plus, He will also create a way out of the situation for you. He did not bring you to the storm just to abandon you; He already has a way out for you. Don’t try to do it by your own strength because God has His own way of changing our situations. He has you covered from beginning to end. He will make sure that you do not “go down” with the storm.

So, one of the major ways that God gets our attention is through trials that come upon us; to grow us, mature us, and bring us to God.

I want to also encourage you that as you go through these difficult moments, to continually meditate on this scripture: James 1:2-4

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

According to this scripture, when it is all said and done, when you have come to the end of yourself and have then completely devoted your time and attention to God, when the trial, the storm has passed and you have persevered through it, matured and complete, you are sure to come out of it LACKING NOTHING! It doesn’t get any better than that, won’t you agree?

So, be encouraged, be hopeful, knowing that you WILL come through that challenge victorious in every way, and most importantly, with an intimate relationship with God Himself.

And I pray that as you go through those difficult, painful seasons, that the “God of hope fills you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” Amen! (See Romans 15:13).

Well until next time, remember, keep your hope in God for He loves you unconditionally and has promised to never leave you nor forsake you!

Be sure to also check out other related articles below that I’m sure you will enjoy. Be blessed as you read.