Adeolu Morawo
Key points
Honeymoon Victories: The initial triumphs and early victories in our promise journey signify God's presence and endorsement but are not the final fulfillment of His plan.
Intense Sustained Backlash (ISB): Following the 'honeymoon' phase, the enemy often mounts a sustained backlash to steal the promise, but God uses this phase to anchor the promise in our hearts and develop the character needed for its fulfillment.
Navigating the ISB: The ISB is a mixed phase, combining challenges with God's presence and guidance, and our choice lies in what we choose to focus on during this time.
Resolute Attention to the Promise: Throughout the journey, whether in victory or adversity, holding tightly to the promise is crucial, as it will steadily grow and ultimately overcome the darkness.
Introduction:
Well, it is not about honeymoon as in honeymoon. But is a very related concept.
Shortly after the surprise anointing of David among his older brothers to be king, he found himself slinging a stone and slaying a giant while Saul and all the warriors of his country watched on. After David’s stunning defeat of Goliath, without skipping a beat, he went on to have several victories over the Philistines, including their generals. All the while Saul had become jealous of him. Still, David ate at Saul’s table and continued to be popular with his countrymen. However, Saul’s jealousy ultimately boiled over and David became a fugitive running from wilderness to wilderness. This backlash against David was both intense and sustained for about 7 years. Even after Saul’s death, the backlash did not die with him, David had to wait another 7 years to ascend the throne over all Israel.
The Honeymoon:
When God grants us a word of promise, it often comes with an initial excitement and a series of early victories that feel like a honeymoon period. These victories are like the first bloom of a beautiful flower, a foretaste of the promise yet to fully manifest. Just as the dove descended upon Jesus before he was led into the wilderness to be tempted, these honeymoon victories signify God's presence and endorsement of His promise in our lives.
However, it's crucial to recognize that these early triumphs are not the final manifestation of God's promise. They are, instead, a sign of His faithfulness and a glimpse of what's to come. But they are also a foreboding signal to the enemy.
The Intense Sustained Backlash (ISB):
Following the honeymoon victories, there often comes a period of intense and sustained backlash from the enemy. The enemy, fearing the powerful and perpetual effects of the fruits, mounts an ISB to wrest the seed of the promise out of your hands. However, God will not be outmaneuvered by your enemy. God uses this phase of ISB to entrench the promise into your heart and build into you the character needed to faithfully execute the promise and transmit it to future generations. This challenging phase builds the unshakable foundation upon which the lasting promise will rest.
The ISB is a mixed phase:
The ISB phase is often misunderstood as pure evil. It's not. It's a mix of loud voices of discouragement and the quiet, unmistakable voice of God's presence- The God-signal. Amidst the darkness of ISB, there's a persistent glimmer of light in one corner.
The ISB is a testing ground, akin to the wilderness experience of the Israelites where despair was mixed with miracles, and hunger was mixed with manna. It’s the valley of the shadow of death where the rod and the staff help you mature until a table is set before you in the presence of your enemies. For Joseph, it was unfair slavery and unjust imprisonment mixed with leadership development and favor from his oppressors. What does this phase look like for you? Do you see the mixture? The suffering and the God-signal? The ISB presents contradictory signals, but our choice lies in what we pay attention to.
Pay resolute attention to the promise:
During this time of backlash, it's imperative to hold tightly to the promise, as advised in 2 Peter 1:19. The promise may seem faint, like a solitary light in a murky darkness. Still, it's a light that, with time, will ignite into an overpowering morning star within our hearts, dispelling the surrounding darkness.
While honeymoon victories often arrive as spikes (big and fast), the God-signal amid ISB starts small and grows steadily, overpowering the darkness if we allow it. It's a light built on a solid foundation, designed to endure.
Summary:
In life, interdigitating phases of victory and backlash are normal, especially in the progressive manifestation of God's promise. Honeymoon victories offer a taste of what's to come, while the ensuing backlash strengthens our resolve and deepens our faith. The ISB, though challenging, contains signs of God's presence and provisions- The God-signal. Whether in the honeymoon phase or in the backlash phase, do not take your eyes off the promise, and do not be carried away by the drama around you.
Conclusion
As we journey through the waves of promise, let's remember that God's faithfulness endures, whether we're basking in the glow of honeymoon victories or facing the trials of intense backlash. The promise is a seed that requires time to grow, and the backlash is a refining process. Embrace both with faith and resilience, for they are part of the beautiful tapestry of God's plan for our lives.