Blog Post
Posted by Dion Todd January 31st, 2025 1,732 Views 30 Comments
My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids. Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. Job 16:16 WEB.
Bills piled up steadily at our house with no income to pay them. I'd just spent a couple of months intensely seeking the Lord, praying with my face to the carpet for two hours a day, and soaking in His presence like a warm blanket. Then suddenly, our business dried up.
As the months passed without work, I began to feel abandoned and alone. When I tried to pray, I no longer got an answer. When I tried to worship, there was no presence. When we gave, we just had less. When we fasted, we were just hungry. I know that the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you, but I could only hear crickets and bill collectors.
During that dark season, I learned this: While a school teacher is teaching the class, they will answer any questions you have. But when the test begins, there is silence in the classroom. The teacher won't give you the answers. You are supposed to use the knowledge that you've been taught to pass the test. The teacher is still there, but they won't speak until the exam is over.
The Book of Job is about a righteous man who went through a test. Job's life fell apart. All of his children and livestock were taken from him, he was covered in sores, and there was only silence from the Lord. Then God showed up at the end of the book and restored Job after he prayed for his friends.
In my life, I have gone through tests. Once, after several months of no work and intense pressure, we were packing to move out of our home. Then it ended abruptly, and everything changed for us in twenty-four hours. The Lord put us into ministry. I became a pastor and a friend stepped in and paid all of our bills for the month. The test was over. His presence returned, and like David and Job, we recovered all.
If all you can hear are crickets and bill collectors, know that it's just a test. Keep the faith, don't give up today. Keep praying, and try to stay positive. It will eventually pass, and you'll be taken to a new level. As Job sat on the ground, having lost everything, he probably didn't see the blessings soon coming. Yet the Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life even more than the beginning (Job 42:12).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to You and ask for mercy. Please bring the things that You have taught me back to my remembrance. Give me the grace to pass the tests that I face. Fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: Today is "Feel Good Friday" at the FAAD (Fight Against Anxiety & Depression) group! On this day, we uplift each other with posts of encouragement and joy! All are welcome to join and participate! As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.
Site update #586: I completed a large update to the Audio Library on the left sidebar. There is now a live service archive of all past services, full-length in case you miss a service and want to catch up, as well as all of our original music. You can download the .mp3 files directly to your device now to listen when you don't have internet. I also added a pop-out player so you can listen without remaining on the page. Give it a try and let me know if you have any problems. 😀
Post from Susan Petho
6 months ago
Amen!
Post from Brenda F
6 months ago
Amen
Post from Marilyn Salter
6 months ago
Amen
Post from Nell Neathery
6 months ago
Pastor Dion's Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to You and ask for mercy. Please bring the things that You have taught me back to my remembrance. Give me the grace to pass the tests that I face. Fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Keep the faith; keep praying, stay positive, don't give up. This too shall pass, and I would like to go to the next level but not too, too quickly!
Lord, help me to know that I can see the blessings coming, in Jesus' name, Amen
Post from Mari Kaufmann
6 months ago
Amen
Post from Wesley Paulus
6 months ago
Amen!
Post from Sherry Mccosh
6 months ago
Heavenly Father, I come to You and ask for mercy. Please bring the things that You have taught me back to my remembrance. Give me the grace to pass the tests that I face. Fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Post from Yvette York
6 months ago
Heavenly Father Please Give Me The Grace To Pass The Test That I Face Amen Good Morning Everyone 😀
Post from Sylvia Todd
6 months ago
Good morning, y'all, praying you have a fantastically blessed Friday! 💛🙏🌻
Comment from Dan Remley
6 months ago
Good afternoon Sylvia and pastor Dion. I hope that you and our RHM family has a wonderful and safe day ❤️
Post from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
6 months ago
Amen and Amen, Pastor!!! Thank you so much again for another powerful testimony, having gone through so much and yet the Lord was right there even in the darkest moments and seasons, in your life! Thinking of the cutting and pressure applied to the point of becoming like a shining diamond, as the Lord prepared you for His ministry in the silence!! So very comforting and reassuring for me knowing that the Lord, our Lord and God, is right there with us even in the silence!!! 🙏
Post from Scott Riegelmann
6 months ago
Amen thank you Jesus for always being there when we go through these tests please remind me of all the times you came through as the test came to an end, this devotional is absolutely what I've been going through the last couple months thank you for it pastor Dion God bless RHM and all of our family
Comment from Dan Remley
6 months ago
Amen Scott. Continued prayers for you. I pray that the Lord brings you peace ❤️
Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
6 months ago
Amen, brother!!! Please now that you're in my prayers!! 🙏❣️🤗
Post from Dan Remley
6 months ago
Lord, when times get tough. Please bring me patience. For I know things will improve on your time. Give me strength and courage. I have complete faith in You Father. Thank you for the many blessings that you have given me. Amen ❤️
Post from Debi Burton
6 months ago
Heavenly Father, I come to You and ask for mercy. Please bring the things that You have taught me back to my remembrance. Give me the grace to pass the tests that I face. Fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! ❤️🤟🏻
Post from Craig Mondello
6 months ago
Amen.
Post from Lynn Brown
6 months ago
Heavenly Father, I come to You and ask for mercy. Please bring the things that You have taught me back to my remembrance. Give me the grace to pass the tests that I face. Fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Post from Laura Clark
6 months ago
Amen. A double amen to.. "Please bring the things you've taught me to remembrance." I can be really stubborn and forgetful at times. Thank you Father for the tests that have led me back to You or have strengthened my faith through the years. You are a GOOD GOOD Father. ❣️
Post from Deborah Blackshear
6 months ago
I need Thee, Oh God
Post from Gloria Nebarez
6 months ago
Lord give me the grace to pass the tests that I face, fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! Thank you Jesus.
Post from Theresa Bright
6 months ago
Amen 🙏🏻
Post from Linda Clark
6 months ago
Amen
Post from Bella Colliander
6 months ago
Heavenly Father, Give me rhe grace to pass the tests that I face. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!🕊️
Post from Kevin J. Eck
6 months ago
Heavenly Father, Remind me of your Life answers, from the your tests that you have lead me through. Give me the Grace to learn from your future tests. In Peace I want to live before you! In your mighty name, Jesus, Amen!
Post from Valeri Frank
6 months ago
Amen!🙏🏼
Post from Elena Vasquez
6 months ago
Amen
Post from Marisa Jackson
6 months ago
Amen🙏❤️🙏!!!
Post from Kay Collinsworth
6 months ago
Amen
Post from Dana Rozell
6 months ago
Amen!
Post from Celeste Strenn
6 months ago
Amen thank you Lord Jesus 🙏🏽
Post from Schalk de Beer
6 months ago
Yes Abba Father, in Jesus's name I pray this, amen.
Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
12 hours ago
Thank you so much for your Labor of Love, your faithfulness, and endless service, Pastor Dion!! What a blessing to have the Audio Library available to us!!! May the Lord bless you and Sylvia above and beyond, grant you good health and meet all of your needs!! We are, the entire RHM family, so very grateful for you, thanking the Lord for leading us to RHM!! 🙏🤗❣️
Comment from Marilyn Salter
1 day ago
Thank you
Comment from Cathy Webb
2 days ago
What a blessing, Pastor Dion! The audio library page is easy to navigate and I truly appreciate the pop-out player, as I have many tabs open during my computer sessions and this allows me to keep the music flowing. Well done! 😊🎶
Comment from Gloria Nebarez
2 days ago
Thank you
Comment from Tyler Velau
5 days ago
Thank you for your continuing work on the site and your efforts to bring the truth of the Gospels to people around the world via the internet. Your hard work and dilligence is appreciated.
Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
5 days ago
Thank you so much, Pastor Dion, for all that you do, it sounds to me like non-stop "24-7"! God bless you and Sylvia abundantly, above and beyond! 🙏🤗
Comment from Nell Neathery
5 days ago
sounds great. I know that will be useful for me...need to write that down. Hope the Todd family have a blessed Saturday and Sunday. I do believe God gave us those 2 special days for His sake and our sake! Work hard or volunteer (myself) hard through the week. We get our rewards here on Earth and rewards in Heaven.
Comment from Lynn Brown
6 days ago
That sounds amazing Pastor Dion, thank you!!!