Most of us are still waiting for that breakthrough in our lives, healing (physical and emotional or mental), financial. We are all going through different difficult things and stages in our lives, and the world around us is one big mess, as people are abused, oppressed, murdered and go through natural disasters and wars or worse, as the devil uses sin and our own minds to try to convince us that God is not really there, that he does not really love us. A really bleak place to be. Unless you are being strengthened and carried by faith in the One that created heaven and earth, through His son, Jesus Christ.
The Word of God contains the promises that God has given us. As you read His Word, He will unlock the words for you, take you on a gentle journey to start the healing process. A small puzzle piece at a time. And as you surrender your life piece by piece, and submit to the Holy Spirit, you will receive bigger revelations, He will teach you how to discern His voice in all this mayhem going on in the world and in our minds. It is a process. But our Father is so loving and gentle when we need Him to be. He will meet you where you are, wash you in the Blood of Jesus, and gently show you the next step.
The very first step of course is to become Born Again, this is when you ask Jesus to come and live in your heart. You repent of your sins, declare that you believe that Jesus died on the cross, so your sins can be forgiven through His Grace alone. Not because we keep the 10 commandments, or because we are good people. See God gives us free will to choose Him or not. He does not force anyone to follow Him. But once you have taken that first step, He takes you on this journey of healing and small revelations and dealing with our sins. The journey is to transform us to be more and more like Christ.
You must learn to discern God’s voice, and be obedient to what He is asking. Wow is that a worthwhile experience! In my case He has always confirmed what He has said and asked 3 times from different places, sometimes the most unlikely places! Once you start being obedient, even when it does not always make sense to your own mind or to the world’s standard, you will start to see the everyday miracles happening. They still happen everyday when you follow Jesus. Tiny miracles that only you and God know about, or big life changing miracles.
While you are on this journey with God, I suggest you keep a journal or online diary of some sort, where you write down the scriptures, revelations and puzzle pieces as it is revealed to you, as you might only come to full understanding a bit later, or it will fit into something else in future where you will need today’s scripture and Word to unlock the next step. It might be the confirmation you need, or you will need God’s promises to carry you when you are going through the wilderness.
See when you become a Christian you should know that you WILL go through the wilderness at some point. Even Jesus did right after He was baptized, He was tempted by the devil for 40 days in the desert, and came out victorious.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:1
So don’t think everything will be just roses and sunshine. The enemy will use other people, circumstances, illness, finances, our own minds, anything, to try to get us to not take the next step that God has prepared for us. But we are not going through this alone. God is with us every step of the way.
“For the LORD your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing.” Deuteronomy 2:7
God also uses everything that the enemy throws at us to teach us perseverance, to grow our faith and teach us things we will need to step into the full inheritance He has planned for us. He uses everything for our good in the end. Isn’t that amazing?
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Rom 8:28
Each puzzle piece requires a higher understanding, devotion and excellence as the one before. Trials, even though they are very difficult to go through, can help us to build our spiritual muscles, bring us closer to our destiny and God’s plan for our life. Or it can do the opposite, but the choice still stays with us.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
I must be honest with you, it feels like I have been going through the wilderness for some time now. But when I look at my life, I am still in awe of what God has done for me, and I know I have so much to be thankful for. I know how God has blessed me in the midst of this wilderness, and there are many Christians who are going through much bigger trials than me. I keep my eyes on Jesus, and I hold onto the fact that He died for me, and I am co-heir with Jesus of the Kingdom and Glory of God.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ— if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him Rom 8:16-17
If you are also currently going through difficult things, it feels like you have been in the wilderness almost as long as the Isrealites, I want to encourage you today to keep your eyes on Jesus and stand strong with His help. God will not allow anything to happen to you, that will be too difficult for you to get through. Sometimes this is hard to believe, but it is true. You can also ask God to increase your faith and your hope. All you need to focus on, is taking the next step forward.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Eph 3:20
Start your day by fully surrendering everything to Him, one by one. Ask Him for guidance for every step you take, however small or big. Know that you are not alone, as long as you stay believing and reading the Word of God, you will get through this in victory.
Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
If you have not taken that very first step yet, please be in contact with me at hello@diaryofhope.org, and I can guide you through this. It is the most important step you will ever take. If you are stuck in the wilderness somewhere and need some encouragement or just need to talk to someone, please also reach out. As the body of Christ we need to lift each other up. If you have a story of hope to share, a testimony of how God has brought you through your difficult times victoriously, please send it to mystory@diaryofhope.org. We need to share our testimonies, to encourage others, and so we can remember what God has done for us in the past.
Thank you for reading!
xxx Mariana