Wilderness Experiences

Have you ever been in a situation that seems to lock you up? You know, a landslide of difficulty coming down around you. Well, this week two very dear young women have come to me with similar weight on there backs . These wives,mothers, faith filled friends have been challenged by overwhelming circumstances.

One women is facing an onslaught of attacks in the area of her families health issues, the other faces major conflicts in financial and employment decisions. Both are really being squeezed with a vice grip hold to continue to walk against the white water rapids of discouragement. Carried along this frightening flow of non stop-need a breath-emotional riptide, they ask the same question of God. How long Oh Lord can I hold on to hope?

Do you know that feeling from a time in your own faith journey? I do. I remember it like it was yesterday! Some things we never forget. My church family had just anointed me and six other women to take a vow of prayer and service at a Sunday service. I was so humbled to be a part of this extension of service for the sake of living out my christian vocation. The next day my family headed to visit our daughter in college. In one weeks time, my home was robbed, my dog was in a critical accident, the washer broke down and my small children were having nightmares over the unbelievable havoc our lives became. No sense of continuity, no ability to enter a moment of rest. I was so shaken to the core that I started to fear being alone in my house in case the intruder returned!

I remember my first day alone in the house, I was a strong front for the sake of the kids, but after sending them to school, I felt paralized. I melted into a heap of tears on my kitchen floor and sobbed uncontrollably. I kept crying "Help me God! Help me" .. the phone rang and it was a friend who dropped everything and came to me. She carried my shaky frame back to the kitchen and cradled me like a mother with a newborn. She let me cry and cry and cry as she stroked my head and softly rocked me with gentle shushing. After a long while she reminded me that I was human.

Yes, HUMAN! She told me that my every tear was a deep prayer to God. It was good to release them. It was right to be mindful of my own limits, it was expected that I should be come against after my public confession of Jesus alive in me. Yes Jesus was also in a wilderness where He was tested by Satan. We forget that old Devil still uses the same bag of tricks!

Ladies and gentlemen, It was after her departure that I saw clearly the strategic manipulation of Satan trying to render me useless in Gods service with the booby traps of fear, anxiety and distraction. It gave me a whole new prayer life! I learned to recognize the enemy instantly around various situations and rebuke him and the horse he rode in on!!!!

If you are currently coming up against opposition in your household circumstances, take a moment to see what strongholds are at work against Gods good purposes! Begin to set up a battalion of blessings, gather your warrior bride of Christ girlfriends to pray and worship with and for you, and remember you are human, God is all powerful, jealous for the sake of HIS children! He has given authority to you in the Name of Jesus. You are not alone!!!!