God Takes Us into the Wilderness
Grief is nothing new. As we know, it all started in the Garden of Eden. So why do we question our sufferings?
After our family suffered a horrible tragedy, the attack of our daughters, we suffered for years.
The wilderness seems like a lonely, dark, and never-ending wasteland of misery and heartache. My journey through the wilderness was a time when God felt distant and silent. My first instinct was to shy away from God. I became consumed by all that we’d lost.
I knew in my heart what I desperately wanted, but letting go felt as though I accepted the wrongs done to us. This lie is from the enemy. The enemy’s purpose is to keep us captive, angry, lost and wandering through the wilderness of our pain and misery.
This is not a place we long to stay.
See the Purpose Behind the Pain
Even if we don’t realize it, there is a purpose behind our pain. In those dark times we can’t see the purpose, all we feel is the pain. We can’t fully grasp the blessings that are yet to come.
God allowed the pain, yet it first passed through His hands. When we suffer, He suffers. That’s why it’s so important to cling to the cross. Spend time intentionally dwelling on the pain and suffering Jesus endured on the cross.
Isn’t there more to gain from our journey? Christ didn’t suffer just to suffer. He suffered for us, to give us hope, a future and meaningful life; Jeremiah 29:11. The Lord was in fact, working in my life in ways I didn’t understand - He was reshaping me, remolding me, and teaching me lessons I would never have otherwise learned. I fought against Him for so long. Until I understood, He’s fighting for me. I became motivated to strengthen and deepen my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Through this, I learned I have the power and anointing to change and take control of my life: my thoughts, my actions, and my choices. I could hang onto the grief or chose to surrender it to the Lord.
It’s during our weakest and most vulnerable heartache, that we should lean into God, not away from Him. He longs to hold us, and comfort us. Walk through the grief knowing He is walking with you. Spend time in His word, learn His truths. It can be a difficult walk through the darkness of grief, but when you retreat into the presence of God, He gives light to your healing.
Break the Shackles that Bind
We have that control. God’s given us authority over the darkness. It’s up to us to decide to operate and live in God’s authority. When we can accept it, speak it, and live it. Our words become a weapon of war against the enemy. Jesus spoke words of power; Luke 9:1-2, Matt 10:1, and 10:7-8. Jesus said heal the sick, not pray for the sick. When we believe His truth and act on His power, we become warriors. Fight the battle, don’t allow the battle to conquer you.
One of the most misunderstood, and seldom practiced commands Jesus gives us, is the fact that healing is under the authority of the believer. Are we too passive? Do we really believe in the authority God He has granted us? He spoke words of power and authority. Jesus didn’t say, “well if you want to see healing in your life, perhaps these are some steps you can take…”
Passive thinking doesn’t bring nor extend authority. Honestly believing in ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit on God’s authority, changes everything.