Wilderness Testimonies?

[loolalooh]

Does anyone have a wilderness testimony? Or maybe I should say "Promised Land" testimony?

Please share. I could really use the encouragement as I am in the last stages (I hope) of a wilderness now. This past week has been hard, but I'll keep at it.

 

[Butterfly08]

Awesome thread. I crossed through my Red Sea last year but I am presently in a wilderness stage myself. I believe God showed me visions of my promised land, but of course every obstacle has sprung up to discourage me. For me to get there will literally take a miracle from God. Perhaps He set it up this way to show me that NOBODY BUT HIM can deliver me - to remove all doubt in my mind about His ability to rescue and prosper me.

I do not believe this wilderness stage is for lack of faith like the children of Israel - rather I have grown more in faith during my Red Sea and wilderness experience than I have in all my life, and I have dedicated my body to Him in purification and righteousness. I believe it is a time of preparation for what He is about to bless me with, which I believe will be an elevation.

What I am struggling with right now is loneliness. It seems like everyone has been stripped from my life, and my family who loves me is so far away. I sometimes feel stuck where I am. It has caused me to lean more on God, because He is all I have. But I think He wants me in this place where I have to depend wholly on Him. I try not to think about what I'm missing out on, but rather trust that he will restore everything that the locusts have eaten.

I just finally made up my mind to BELIEVE that He WILL bring me to my promised land. It really doesn't look like it to my natural eye, but I'm tuning my spiritual eye to His vision for my life and believing that He will deliver me...against all odds. I believe I will have a testimony soon. In the meantime, I look forward to hearing others.

Oh, He told me today to be "persistent in praise." I believe the enemy will attempt to attack my mind and He is preparing me in advance. When I was going through my Red Sea experience, with the "Pharoah" in my life attacking me and oppressing me daily, I began physically praising every day to fight back spiritually. I would literally play praise and worship music and dance, wave my arms and praise Him with my body and spirit. Daily praise and devouring the Word helped to bring me through that extremely difficult stage and would totally change the atmosphere in my house, and most importantly, my mind.

 

[JinaRicci]

Hi Loolalooh, sorry to hear that you're going through a rough time. I pray that God will continue to strengthen you in this experience.

My experience was that God allowed me to get lost in my own wilderness to increase my faith as He became the only one I could turn to. I pray that it encourages you.

I was in school and had the worst possible adviser. My rotation had gone well & I joined his group but the true colors came out afterwards. There was no room for error or learning with him. I was working so hard trying to get everything right that I was barely eating or sleeping and my skin was breaking out all over. A lot of times I went home at 5 AM and returned at 9 AM but it still wasn't enough for him.

He had also threatened that if I were to leave that I would lose my position & funding. Seeing that he was the Chair of that dept, I didn't doubt that he could do that. I didn't feel like I had much support to fight this. I was only a 2nd yr, the only black person in my program at the time and had already gone through my 1st experience with racism in my first qtr with a professor. So I didn't know who to trust that could do something.

Even though it went against everything I stood for, I decided to quit- not just his group but school period. I had started to doubt even my abilities to be at school and this was my easy way out of this mess.

I went home for Xmas to see my family who I missed so much and even this was directly against his wishes because he didn't believe in vacations for students. While I was there I decided to never ever go back & just leave all my things at school. But my family begged me to try harder. It was like no one I trusted could understand what was happening to me and I felt like I was losing my mind. I was having these violent thoughts & dreams about what I would do to this man and didn't like who I was becoming but I went back.

Somewhere around the 9th month, after a bad episode I finally realized that I had to turn this thing completely over to God and take myself out of it. I knew that God had brought me there for a purpose but I couldn't reconcile that this was really what He had for me. God led me to talk with the director of the fellowship program who I didn't think would understand because he was a very driven Chinese guy not given to emotion & some of the most ridiculous professors on campus were Chinese (my own prejudice). That man in a very non-emotional way listened to my story and set up interviews with other advisers who he trusted so that I could have a way out to secure my position before I quit the other group.

To make a very long story short, I found a great adviser who I loved so much that I didn't want to leave even after 4 yrs. God made a path for me that was so clear and so straight it could only have been Him. I had worried about losing 10 months of my life in this other place & it worked out that I still kept up with my class. The skills learned in the other group were different & I was able to transfer those skills & help teach others in my new group. I was also able to help new students avoid this disaster. The struggle was hard- no denying that but God used it for good.

God is awesome! Keep trusting in Him, don't give up cause He is able to do ALL things.

 

[loolalooh]

Thank you for sharing, Butterfly08. You + me are here on the loneliness. My family is far away too. Others were stripped out of my life. (One was/is a best friend who's agnostic border-atheist, and I felt God telling me to relinquish that friendship and talk to Him instead.) So with that, majority of the time it's just me + God. This has been good in forcing me to mature spiritually and TRULY get to know Him. However, it's also been hard when all I allow my "natural eye" to look at the desert around me. I can't wait to hear your testimony!

Thank you for your testimony, JinaRicci! It's certainly encouraging. God allowed me to get lost in my wilderness for the same reason - to increase my faith. It's funny because I always thought Him and I were solid ... until I entered the wilderness and He helped me to realize that my trust in Him was lacking in a particular area of my life. You're right ... He is able to do ALL things. I need to not just believe that in 2 places of my life but in ALL. Thank you for the prayer, as well!

 

[OhmyKimB]

Does anyone have a wilderness testimony? Or maybe I should say "Promised Land" testimony?

Please share. I could really use the encouragement as I am in the last stages (I hope) of a wilderness now. This past week has been hard, but I'll keep at it.

I wish I could tell you...maybe God will move my heart to say something, but I feel like I'm in the same place...and I'm praying that I'm close to the end...I feel like I'm doing a lot of preparing right now

 

[phynestone]

I'm in the wilderness right now. God told me to trust Him on this one. I didn't want to move to this area at first b/c I wanted to stay and possibly get back with my ex-boyfriend. God moved in such a way that all of my roads led to DC. I knew He was calling me here, but I was so scared. All obstacles that should have been in my way were somehow removed and I can tell the ONLY reason I am still here is because of God. I've had ALL of my needs taken care of and I'm not relying on people mistreating me just so that I can get their help or have them around. God told me I didn't need to rely on anyone but Him. It's been a little scary doing something different, but I'm realizing I should have done this a long time ago.

 

[OhmyKimB]

One thing I'm really learning in my valley is that I need to listen. I get mad at God because I feel as though He *is telling me one thing and then doing another only to realize after I've gone partially insane that I'm the one that had it wrong. God meant just what he said but I changed it along the way. I added something to it or expected an outcome which was not the one being dervired. I really need to work on being an active listener instead of a active guesser. I really don't pay attention to ppl and things and I honestly don't know why. For example in July/August of 2008 God said that my turn was going to start that February of the next year. *I got all excited and I tried to stay excited even in June when what I was looking for didn't come. I tried to be excited and did go insane in July when it seemed like my life crashed in on my face. The whole time had I just realized the purpose of the thing. If I had listened and really opened my mind to understanding I prolly would of had a lot less of my hair fall out. I know to stay in the word I mean by staying there I've been open to learning so many more things. My turn meant God was going to start preparing me. I was gonna cross the red sea and get chucked into a desert. God has always always always always given me a warning before he puts me somewhere and takes me through something (did I mention he always does it?) however I don't listen or when I ask for understanding I stop listening and go with the first thing that pops into my mind. I really look back and every dream I'm living out and the fact that before I started my journey he told me that too! Ugh. I don't know where to start or what to read in the bible so that I can really learn this. How can I follow God, be a wife, a mother, work or do anything when I have such terribly poor listening skills? You guys God moved me to write this because you don't know what understanding I just gained just doing this.*

 

[phynestone]

^^^^^^^^I think all Christians have struggled with not listening at some point in their walk. Pray for guidance, discernment and understanding. And patience. This is a biggie. I have that problem too. I want to know the future and be able to plan, but you can't plan everything. It's hard to trust in the unknown.

OP, I'm so glad you started this thread. It seems like a lot of people are starting threads all over the board with topics that have intrigued me for years. Like the questions you want answers to, but are afraid to ask.

 

[loolalooh]

Thanks so much for sharing, ladies! It's good to hear others' stories. Lol, Phynestone, I know what you mean. It took a while for me to start this thread ... I was hoping someone else would do it first.

Ladies, it's truly comforting to have this discussion with you all and see others going through (and getting out of) a similar journey. I hope to hear more stories and future testimonies. Hopefully I'll have a testimony to share sooner than later.

All we can do right now is trust that if we stay in tune with God then we'll reach the Promised Land.

 

[MSee]

I am glad you started this too, because today I really needed to hear some testimonies. For me I am becoming more aware of the fact that God sends me warnings through dreams yet I woke up the other morning totally frustrated because I had another one that I knew was a message and my reaction was "when will it end". I've been going through stuff after stuff especially with people. I truly believe in forgiving others but I even told God that I am tempted not to forgive. I just want a chance to give them a piece of my mind that they have yet to see but are slandering me about. But God speaks. On the morning of me voicing my frustration, I opened my bible to a verse assuring me of the good in having my faith tried and He took me back to the proverbs that advices not to 'recompence evil' but wait on the Lord and He shall save you. Also I've been hearing messages by Pastors I don't even know, that truly speaks to my situation. One was saying that we must look out for the period of frustration when we are exercising faith. That is the place a lot of us fall yet it is most times just before we recieve the good we have been waiting for.

Then a few times after prayer I felt led to Numbers 14. It is the account of when the Isrealite spies brought back the bad report (except the 2) and discouraged the people from entering the promised land. That resulted in another 40 years wandering. I don't want that to be my lot. It seems as a spin off to this I keep hearing messages against murmering and complaining. I'm memorizing Philipians 2:14-15, because I am guilty of that habit when things get tough. I pray God help us all. I'm expecting a period of great 'Promise land' testimonies from this forum in the future, because many of us seem to be going through with a spirit that refuses to give up.

 

[Butterfly08]

I am glad you started this too, because today I really needed to hear some testimonies. For me I am becoming more aware of the fact that God sends me warnings through dreams yet I woke up the other morning totally frustrated because I had another one that I knew was a message and my reaction was "when will it end". I've been going through stuff after stuff especially with people. I truly believe in forgiving others but I even told God that I am tempted not to forgive. I just want a chance to give them a piece of my mind that they have yet to see but are slandering me about. But God speaks. On the morning of me voicing my frustration, I opened my bible to a verse assuring me of the good in having my faith tried and He took me back to the proverbs that advices not to 'recompence evil' but wait on the Lord and He shall save you. Also I've been hearing messages by Pastors I don't even know, that truly speaks to my situation. One was saying that we must look out for the period of frustration when we are exercising faith. That is the place a lot of us fall yet it is most times just before we recieve the good we have been waiting for.

Then a few times after prayer I felt led to Numbers 14. It is the account of when the Isrealite spies brought back the bad report (except the 2) and discouraged the people from entering the promised land. That resulted in another 40 years wandering. I don't want that to be my lot. It seems as a spin off to this I keep hearing messages against murmering and complaining. I'm memorizing Philipians 2:14-15, because I am guilty of that habit when things get tough. I pray God help us all. I'm expecting a period of great 'Promise land' testimonies from this forum in the future, because many of us seem to be going through with a spirit that refuses to give up.

I can totally relate to your post. I felt like the Pharoah in my life was not destroyed in the Red Sea, but rather he won. It has taken months for me to stop caring about when and how God will repay him. It is no longer my concern, even though his actions have contributed to my current situation. God will fight my battle! It is very freeing to be able to let go of anger and desire for revenge. As my BF told me - "let your Father handle it."

Concerning the bad report brought back by the spies - we just discussed that passage in bible study Wednesday. I am soooooo determined to keep confessing that my promised land is near. Not to get discouraged by what I see. You're right, the complaining can cause the wilderness experience to get longer. But absolute, unshakable faith can shorten in, if it be God's will. UNSHAKABLE FAITH is pleasing to God, for without it, it is impossible to please Him!!!!

 

[Renovating]

Ladies, thanks for sharing your testimonies. I just wanted to know how you all distinguished the wilderness from a normal test/trial. (I sincerely want to know.) Does knowing which one you're dealing with change how you handle it?

 

[loolalooh]

Ladies, thanks for sharing your testimonies. I just wanted to know how you all distinguished the wilderness from a normal test/trial. (I sincerely want to know.) Does knowing which one you're dealing with change how you handle it?

This is a good question.

I believe the wilderness is a LONG period where you are forced to trust in God wholeheartedly. This "forcing" may follow the stripping of "a comfort zone" (e.g., relationships, residence, money, etc.). All of a sudden, it seems like it's just you and Him.

Test/trials exist during a wilderness but the big test that lasts throughout the period is whether you can trust and follow the Lord's instructions.

The difference between that and normal test/trials? My belief is that normal test/trials come to all Christians alike, to strengthen and refine them. The wilderness, however, is a major strengthening or refining. It comes when one either:

1) seriously questions God's instruction (e.g., Israel questioning the conquering of Canaan) and/or
2) needs preparation for a major mission one is about to enter (e.g., Jesus and the wilderness temptations)

I'd like to hear others' responses as well. Just going by what I feel. Help me out, ladies.

 

[loolalooh]

Ladies, thanks for sharing your testimonies. I just wanted to know how you all distinguished the wilderness from a normal test/trial. (I sincerely want to know.) Does knowing which one you're dealing with change how you handle it?

For the second question ...

To be honest, this is my first wilderness experience so I'm not sure how well I can answer this but I'll try. For me, the onset of the wilderness was a test that I FAILED. So I guess, I'll say that yes, I handled it (initially) the same way I handled normal tests/trials. There were some I passed and there were some I failed.

Now, once in the wilderness, I gradually learned that this wasn't a regular test/trial that I happened to fail and that I could dust off from and start over. Nope. He told me I had a LOT to learn and would be in this desert for a long minute. It's kind of like when the Israelites failed to follow Him the first time and thus missed their opportunity. They needed to be in the wilderness for a good while before they could get another shot at the Promised Land.

In eventually recognizing that this is a wilderness, I am handling it differently. I have to. It was either delve into the Word more and rely on Him more ... or stay stuck in this place, whine, and complain.

 

[Renovating]

This is a good question.

I believe the wilderness is a LONG period where you are forced to trust in God wholeheartedly. This "forcing" may follow the stripping of "a comfort zone" (e.g., relationships, residence, money, etc.). All of a sudden, it seems like it's just you and Him.

Test/trials exist during a wilderness but the big test that lasts throughout the period is whether you can trust and follow the Lord's instructions.

The difference between that and normal test/trials? My belief is that normal test/trials come to all Christians alike, to strengthen and refine them. The wilderness, however, is a major strengthening or refining. It comes when one either:

1) seriously questions God's instruction (e.g., Israel questioning the conquering of Canaan) and/or
2) needs preparation for a major mission one is about to enter (e.g., Jesus and the wilderness temptations)

I'd like to hear others' responses as well. Just going by what I feel. Help me out, ladies.

Thank you Loolalooh. I was thinking something along the lines of the bolded, but I wasn't sure. I appreciate you clarifying that for me.

 

[Butterfly08]

Ladies, thanks for sharing your testimonies. I just wanted to know how you all distinguished the wilderness from a normal test/trial. (I sincerely want to know.) Does knowing which one you're dealing with change how you handle it?

This IS a good question, and I agree with loolalooh's explanation. Here are my other thoughts as well:

• As loolalooh said, this is an EXTENDED trial. It won't be a quick lesson. Some things take time to learn. It may not be years and years, but it won't be a quick one day test either.
• You will be alone or feel alone. When Jesus was in the wilderness to fast and pray, no other human was around Him. You may have friends in your life, but they won't be enough to fill the void in you. Or you may be totally friendless, which can lead to despair. But when Jesus was in the wilderness, it was a time to draw close to the Father without any other distractions. And the closer You get to Him.....
• Almost everything that is comfortable to you will be stripped away, one by one. Sometimes things that are comfortable are very bad for you, or prevent you from moving to the Promised Land. Look at the Israelites - they got so frustrated and lost faith so badly that they actually wanted to go back to Egypt - a place of bondage! Wilderness experiences will be so different, so unsettling, that you may actually long for the old land that you just escaped from, just to have familiarity again.
• You will not be able to cheat. Sometimes in regular tests and trials, you may get away with stumbling over and over, repenting each time, but going right back to your mess (like a baby who keeps messing her diaper) - and even knowing in the back of your head while you repent that you will do it again. When you aren't spiritually mature, God may tolerate this behavior for a season. But when you are heading to the wilderness....
• To survive spiritually and emotionally, you will literally have to make a choice - trust God and watch Him provide your daily bread, or go back in bondage and forsake Him. I know that sounds extreme, but I NEVER questioned my faith more than I did during my Red Sea experience. I struggled mightily with anger at God for He allowing so many things to happen to me - years of bondage, depression and disappointment, and then obstacle after obstacle when I finally began to trust Him to deliver me. I cried hard tears to see others who don't even believe in God seem to get the things I LONG for without even trying. I kept asking God "what did I do to deserve this?" You know what I have wanted ever since I was a child, why can't I have it? God even set it up that the Israelites had to trust Him EVERY DAY. He provided manna from heaven, but it was only good for that day. If they tried to store it up (or create a "back up plan" just in case God didn't come through), it would turn to worms. God gave them just enough to get them through the day, so they would have to keep trusting Him day by day for provision. God doesn't want us creating back up plans just in case He doesn't come through. That shows a lack of faith.
• Your faith will be tested over and over, relentlessly, almost without a break. I remember reading Job and just being blown away at how many tragedies happened to him in one day. His wealth gone, his children dead, messengers kept coming up to him with more and more bad news. At first you may hold on to your faith, but it gets hard to tell God "yet will I trust you" when it seems you've done nothing to deserve the onslaught. Job was upright, but that didn't shield him from tragedy. I felt this way too. It was one thing right after the other. Just as soon as I forgave and began trusting again, I got slapped across the face again with another attack. I couldn't even get my bearings. Very difficult experience to endure. However, I believe this relentless discipline is necessary because the Promised Land will be so wonderful that it may be easy to get comfortable and forget that it was GOD who brought you there. We need to be reminded over and over that no matter how many trials come against us, GOD can and WILL deliver us from them all. And when we reach that land, we should want to serve him even more fervently in gratitude for His miraculous deliverance.
• If you believe God, He WILL come through for you. Time and time again God provided for His children - water when they were thirsty, bread when they were hungry. He was their cloud by day and fire at night. I reached a place where I began to declare the victory, even though I couldn't see it. Some of what I declared has come to pass, but all of it did not. I had a huge setback when one of the biggest things I believed God for did not happen, after I had stepped out on faith more than ever before in my life. I was devastated then furious, and pouted for several days until I dusted myself off, told God I was done with my tantrum and back to trusting Him. There are still at least 3 huge miracles that I am believing God for, but he has ALREADY delivered me mightily. And I believe that He is NOT DONE YET!!!
• A miracle got you to the wilderness (the parting of your Red Sea or deliverance from bondage) - so look for another one to get you to the Promised Land. Consider these verses in Joshua Ch 3 that describe the children of Israel crossing the Jordan river:
  
  1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from ****tim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards [a] between you and the ark; do not go near it."
  5 Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
  
  Note - they had to follow the ark because they were going to a NEW land, in a way that they never had gone before! Reading on....
  
  14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
  
  In a miracle similar to the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites were able to pass through the river bed on dry ground.
  
  
  

These are my thoughts. I'm sure there are more, and I will come back and edit when I find them.

 

[OhmyKimB]

^^^so similarily the way we entered into his place is the way that we leave it? Not exactly but in a manner that could be in the same compared to it's entrance






Wow sorry I really just said that twice

 

[loolalooh]

[*]
Your faith will be tested over and over, relentlessly, almost without a break. I remember reading Job and just being blown away at how many tragedies happened to him in one day. His wealth gone, his children dead, messengers kept coming up to him with more and more bad news. At first you may hold on to your faith, but it gets hard to tell God "yet will I trust you" when it seems you've done nothing to deserve the onslaught. Job was upright, but that didn't shield him from tragedy. I felt this way too. It was one thing right after the other. Just as soon as I forgave and began trusting again, I got slapped across the face again with another attack. I couldn't even get my bearings. Very difficult experience to endure. However, I believe this relentless discipline is necessary because the Promised Land will be so wonderful that it may be easy to get comfortable and forget that it was GOD who brought you there. We need to be reminded over and over that no matter how many trials come against us, GOD can and WILL deliver us from them all. And when we reach that land, we should want to serve him even more fervently in gratitude for His miraculous deliverance.

The quoted makes this experience most difficult for me - the relentless testing of my faith. Some days, I'm like ... "Okay, can I get a break already? Seriously. Please?" But I can't. I've got to keep on going if I want to truly experience the Promised Land. Like you said ... "this relentless discipline is necessary".

 

[Butterfly08]

^^^so similarily the way we entered into his place is the way that we leave it? Not exactly but in a manner that could be in the same compared to it's entrance

Wow sorry I really just said that twice

I'm definitely not going to say that every wilderness experience follows the same pattern, I don't have enough biblical knowledge to say that. I do know that in my case, God told me to read Exodus prior to my deliverance, and my experience has been similar to the children of Israel. I really pray though that I do not have to endure for 40 years!! I want to learn from them so I don't make the same mistakes of murmuring, doubting and disobedience. Yes, it took a miracle to even get me to my wilderness, and it will take an even bigger miracle to get to my Promised Land. I was reading that the Jordan river was the deepest river in the world, even deeper than the Red Sea. So in essence, the parting of the Jordan was an even bigger miracle than the first parting of the Red Sea. That's my interpretation anyway. Let me find the link and post it.

 

[loolalooh]

Smokie Norful, I Understand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0skD7d3usw

 

[Laela]

I had to come back to this post this morning to say this is not only thought-provoking but there is so much truth in it. I do understand what you mean by "forcing" here, lest it be misconstrued... Like with Jonah, God will get our attention to do what we're called to do.

The other night, I'd watched a show called "I Was Dead" which gives real-life accounts of people going through near-death experiences. One woman's account stood out for me and I'd like to share it, after reading this post.

This woman was a 43-year-old counselor who worked with terminally ill people. When the dying person would ask her "Did you see them, did you see them?" She said she'd never look up or around but just tell them "no" because she was a skeptic. Later, she was exercising and suffered a hemmoraghing of the brain; surgery was the only hope for her. While she was on the table, she didn't flatline, like the others, but she said she did experience walking into a great light and feeling this warmth that was felt like pure, unconditional Love. She said her senses where heightened so much so that when she "heard" God speak to her, it wasn't through her ears but through her body. She told Him she wanted to stay, He told her she couldn't but that He wanted her to go back and love people the way she experienced his love.

All those people who "came back" had changed...none of them had wanted to come back to earth. One man said his heart was hardened and he always judged people and was changed. He said it's sad for him that it took a near-death experience for God to get his attention, but he was a better person for it. Another said he had a bad temper, but not any more. He was sent back because he had "work to do".

I just wanted to share this with you ladies in this thread. Your testimonies not only are encouraging but they glorify God, and I believe this is how God uses us to bless others.

This is a good question.

I believe the wilderness is a LONG period where you are forced to trust in God wholeheartedly. This "forcing" may follow the stripping of "a comfort zone" (e.g., relationships, residence, money, etc.). All of a sudden, it seems like it's just you and Him.

Test/trials exist during a wilderness but the big test that lasts throughout the period is whether you can trust and follow the Lord's instructions.

The difference between that and normal test/trials? My belief is that normal test/trials come to all Christians alike, to strengthen and refine them. The wilderness, however, is a major strengthening or refining. It comes when one either:

1) seriously questions God's instruction (e.g., Israel questioning the conquering of Canaan) and/or
2) needs preparation for a major mission one is about to enter (e.g., Jesus and the wilderness temptations)

I'd like to hear others' responses as well. Just going by what I feel. Help me out, ladies.

 

[Highly Favored8]

I will be back with my wilderness breakthrough.

 

[OhmyKimB]

^^^Please!

 

[Renovating]

This IS a good question, and I agree with loolalooh's explanation. Here are my other thoughts as well:

• As loolalooh said, this is an EXTENDED trial. It won't be a quick lesson. Some things take time to learn. It may not be years and years, but it won't be a quick one day test either.
• You will be alone or feel alone. When Jesus was in the wilderness to fast and pray, no other human was around Him. You may have friends in your life, but they won't be enough to fill the void in you. Or you may be totally friendless, which can lead to despair. But when Jesus was in the wilderness, it was a time to draw close to the Father without any other distractions. And the closer You get to Him.....
• Almost everything that is comfortable to you will be stripped away, one by one. Sometimes things that are comfortable are very bad for you, or prevent you from moving to the Promised Land. Look at the Israelites - they got so frustrated and lost faith so badly that they actually wanted to go back to Egypt - a place of bondage! Wilderness experiences will be so different, so unsettling, that you may actually long for the old land that you just escaped from, just to have familiarity again.
• You will not be able to cheat. Sometimes in regular tests and trials, you may get away with stumbling over and over, repenting each time, but going right back to your mess (like a baby who keeps messing her diaper) - and even knowing in the back of your head while you repent that you will do it again. When you aren't spiritually mature, God may tolerate this behavior for a season. But when you are heading to the wilderness....
• To survive spiritually and emotionally, you will literally have to make a choice - trust God and watch Him provide your daily bread, or go back in bondage and forsake Him. I know that sounds extreme, but I NEVER questioned my faith more than I did during my Red Sea experience. I struggled mightily with anger at God for He allowing so many things to happen to me - years of bondage, depression and disappointment, and then obstacle after obstacle when I finally began to trust Him to deliver me. I cried hard tears to see others who don't even believe in God seem to get the things I LONG for without even trying. I kept asking God "what did I do to deserve this?" You know what I have wanted ever since I was a child, why can't I have it? God even set it up that the Israelites had to trust Him EVERY DAY. He provided manna from heaven, but it was only good for that day. If they tried to store it up (or create a "back up plan" just in case God didn't come through), it would turn to worms. God gave them just enough to get them through the day, so they would have to keep trusting Him day by day for provision. God doesn't want us creating back up plans just in case He doesn't come through. That shows a lack of faith.
• Your faith will be tested over and over, relentlessly, almost without a break. I remember reading Job and just being blown away at how many tragedies happened to him in one day. His wealth gone, his children dead, messengers kept coming up to him with more and more bad news. At first you may hold on to your faith, but it gets hard to tell God "yet will I trust you" when it seems you've done nothing to deserve the onslaught. Job was upright, but that didn't shield him from tragedy. I felt this way too. It was one thing right after the other. Just as soon as I forgave and began trusting again, I got slapped across the face again with another attack. I couldn't even get my bearings. Very difficult experience to endure. However, I believe this relentless discipline is necessary because the Promised Land will be so wonderful that it may be easy to get comfortable and forget that it was GOD who brought you there. We need to be reminded over and over that no matter how many trials come against us, GOD can and WILL deliver us from them all. And when we reach that land, we should want to serve him even more fervently in gratitude for His miraculous deliverance.
• If you believe God, He WILL come through for you. Time and time again God provided for His children - water when they were thirsty, bread when they were hungry. He was their cloud by day and fire at night. I reached a place where I began to declare the victory, even though I couldn't see it. Some of what I declared has come to pass, but all of it did not. I had a huge setback when one of the biggest things I believed God for did not happen, after I had stepped out on faith more than ever before in my life. I was devastated then furious, and pouted for several days until I dusted myself off, told God I was done with my tantrum and back to trusting Him. There are still at least 3 huge miracles that I am believing God for, but he has ALREADY delivered me mightily. And I believe that He is NOT DONE YET!!!
• A miracle got you to the wilderness (the parting of your Red Sea or deliverance from bondage) - so look for another one to get you to the Promised Land. Consider these verses in Joshua Ch 3 that describe the children of Israel crossing the Jordan river:
  
  1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from ****tim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards [a] between you and the ark; do not go near it."
  5 Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
  
  Note - they had to follow the ark because they were going to a NEW land, in a way that they never had gone before! Reading on....
  
  14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
  
  In a miracle similar to the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites were able to pass through the river bed on dry ground.
  
  
  

These are my thoughts. I'm sure there are more, and I will come back and edit when I find them.

Thank you so much Butterfly08. That was so helpful that I had to print it and post it my journal so I can refer to it in the future.

 

[MSee]

Smokie Norful, I Understand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0skD7d3usw

I first heard that song at a critical point few months ago. Someone in this forum had a list of songs I didn’t even know but my intuition sent me to check out that one. It matched the verses that I was focusing on that week.

Psalms 94:9-10 He that planted the ear shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see?
He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not He correct? He that teacheth man knowledge shall not He know?

The whole chapter was encouraging. Sometimes in the wilderness you start wondering (and I dare say wandering ) if God doesn’t see or hear your cry for help. But He knows everything.

Some things I’ve learned from some wilderness experiences in the bible and other people’s messages:

• Sometimes it may seem like we drive our own self into the wilderness, like Moses after He killed the Egyptian. At the end he was so comfortable in the wilderness he didn’t want to go back when God said it was time.
• Sometimes the wilderness is a place of refuge from bondage, like the Israelites getting out of slavery. I think the major lesson for me in their going through experience was they somehow thought it would have been a “trial free” journey and kept limiting and angering God with their murmurings and complaining, griping and groaning. When time for them to get out they felt the enemies were stronger and themselves too small. Totally ignored their Great God. I don’t want this to be my lot.
• Sometimes you are led to the wilderness by the Spirit, like Jesus. My take away is He had angels ministering to Him and was with wild animals. Sometimes I am convinced I am among “wild animals” with the things I’ve been going though with other people, but Gods sends help, a word, a song, LHCF, those are like my ministering angels. The biggest things is as He was coming out He was tested. That gives us a glimpse into the enemy’s strategy, we must keep that in mind. I guess it was like the river Jordan before promise land. The priests had to step in this time BEFORE the parting, I’m certain this was a test to their obedience.

In all and whatever the paths through the wilderness, GOD IS FAITHFUL

 

[loolalooh]

I had to come back to this post this morning to say this is not only thought-provoking but there is so much truth in it. I do understand what you mean by "forcing" here, lest it be misconstrued... Like with Jonah, God will get our attention to do what we're called to do.

The other night, I'd watched a show called "I Was Dead" which gives real-life accounts of people going through near-death experiences. One woman's account stood out for me and I'd like to share it, after reading this post.

This woman was a 43-year-old counselor who worked with terminally ill people. When the dying person would ask her "Did you see them, did you see them?" She said she'd never look up or around but just tell them "no" because she was a skeptic. Later, she was exercising and suffered a hemmoraghing of the brain; surgery was the only hope for her. While she was on the table, she didn't flatline, like the others, but she said she did experience walking into a great light and feeling this warmth that was felt like pure, unconditional Love. She said her senses where heightened so much so that when she "heard" God speak to her, it wasn't through her ears but through her body. She told Him she wanted to stay, He told her she couldn't but that He wanted her to go back and love people the way she experienced his love.

All those people who "came back" had changed...none of them had wanted to come back to earth. One man said his heart was hardened and he always judged people and was changed. He said it's sad for him that it took a near-death experience for God to get his attention, but he was a better person for it. Another said he had a bad temper, but not any more. He was sent back because he had "work to do".

Thank you for this example and your words!

I just wanted to share this with you ladies in this thread. Your testimonies not only are encouraging but they glorify God, and I believe this is how God uses us to bless others.

Yes, yes. I've received so many blessings (and lessons) from this forum since I stepped in it. I pray that many more testimonies continued to be shared.

 

[OhmyKimB]

I think I just finally listened....

 

[loolalooh]

I first heard that song at a critical point few months ago. Someone in this forum had a list of songs I didn’t even know but my intuition sent me to check out that one. It matched the verses that I was focusing on that week.

Psalms 94:9-10 He that planted the ear shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see?
He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not He correct? He that teacheth man knowledge shall not He know?

The whole chapter was encouraging. Sometimes in the wilderness you start wondering (and I dare say wandering ) if God doesn’t see or hear your cry for help. But He knows everything.

Amen.

Some things I’ve learned from some wilderness experiences in the bible and other people’s messages:

• Sometimes it may seem like we drive our own self into the wilderness, like Moses after He killed the Egyptian. At the end he was so comfortable in the wilderness he didn’t want to go back when God said it was time.
• Sometimes the wilderness is a place of refuge from bondage, like the Israelites getting out of slavery. I think the major lesson for me in their going through experience was they somehow thought it would have been a “trial free” journey and kept limiting and angering God with their murmurings and complaining, griping and groaning. When time for them to get out they felt the enemies were stronger and themselves too small. Totally ignored their Great God. I don’t want this to be my lot.
• Sometimes you are led to the wilderness by the Spirit, like Jesus. My take away is He had angels ministering to Him and was with wild animals. Sometimes I am convinced I am among “wild animals” with the things I’ve been going though with other people, but Gods sends help, a word, a song, LHCF, those are like my ministering angels. The biggest things is as He was coming out He was tested. That gives us a glimpse into the enemy’s strategy, we must keep that in mind. I guess it was like the river Jordan before promise land. The priests had to step in this time BEFORE the parting, I’m certain this was a test to their obedience.

In all and whatever the paths through the wilderness, GOD IS FAITHFUL

My eyes got big when I read the Moses example. I had completely forgotten about it and need to re-read it. My eyes got big because, yesterday, realization hit that I'm too scared to leave the desert (as frustrated as I am at times, I'm scared to enter the next place BEFORE entering the Promised Land). Yep, last night I found out there is a "next place". I felt Him telling me I can't reach the Promised Land without first entering this next place. I was like "Wha-what? That place? Uh ... I don't know." ... Trust, trust.

 

[Highly Favored8]

Sorry I took so long another busy Monday.

Hi ladies,

Five years ago I was accepted into a first time homebuyers program.In 2005 when the real-estate boomed and then tanked in this country. We built our new home in the "midst of the storm" literally.


First the money dried up so fast and the cost of square footage shot up in prices. This is not a big home just a starter home. Our first home. For my home their was about a $30,000.00 short fall. I stayed on my builder day by day. Still no avail. I was just so frustrated I no longer knew what to do. (So, I started attending church which I am now a member of and have been a member for 5 years strong.) Still staying on top of the builder however when no money to build what can you do- now

Fast forward to 2007 a good year so I thought, some of the funds came through to order our panels and supplies we built from Feb.07-until April 2008. Then another slow down that same $30,000.00 short fall caused my home to be put on hold until August of 2009 **Breathe hard*** Inhale-Exhale.

Then the house was at this point 8% ready to be moved into. However the $30,000.00 short fall was still left. Until a person heard of my plight and helped us secure a grant which covered the $30,000.00 shortfall and then some. We finally moved into our home in Nov.2009 this May will make 6 months in our brand new home. Praise God!!!


What helped me was just taking my focus on this very big problem and allowing The Lord to handle it. It was so hard b/c the world said "Why don't you move somewhere else, WOW you better than me b/c I am just not that humbled", "your contractor stole your money", Why don't you just give up".

Beleive me I wanted to listen to the "naysayers" however, I had people in my corner who kept on encouraging me by faith that I would receive this Gift from God b/c "All Good Things come from God". I stayed in the word, my Pastor taught a power teaching about "Making a Stake on my Claim." As soon as I did that I marched around our new home like the walls of Jericho(sp?). Neighbors who do not live on my street anymore Laughed and Mocked me however, I still stand and still made it. As soon as I did this that $30,000.00+++ came on through. I did a lot of Praise and just worshipping God. I still do. I had a very strong Prayer group as well as Wonderful Women Here who Stood with me By Faith That I would receive this Gift from God. I am forever, humbled and thankful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvganA6nrf0- Marivn Sapp's "Praise Him in Advance". This is what I went through. I carry this song in my heart.

 

[Highly Favored8]

Ladies, thanks for sharing your testimonies. I just wanted to know how you all distinguished the wilderness from a normal test/trial. (I sincerely want to know.) Does knowing which one you're dealing with change how you handle it?[/QUOTE]



I knew I was in the wilderness b/c of the fact that I waited 5 years to move into my new home. Then came the "naysayers" . However, when the Lord tells you in Psalms 46:10-11 "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"

Just keep your eyes on the Lord get a song that will carry/help you through the storm. ** I am crying as I am typing this". Also, trusting the Lord with the Impossible so that He can do the Impossible. See what I am telling you is that I believed by Faith and just kept my eyes on the Lord. Staying in the Lord's word.


To answer your second question yes. In this experience I tell people that I had a Father Abraham experience where Abraham and Sarah had a promise from God for a son, even though they went their own way God still granted them their son.

I said "Lord, I do not want to take another house, I am going to stand on the home you promised me". Which I did. I had another neighbor who went through the same thing as me same builder however, she said No, HF8 I did not have that I had a Job experience erplexed look on my face. I stayed on Abraham until we moved into our new home. Then I started studying Job and now I am I see why so choose job for her experience. Now, I understand the Book of Job so much clearer now.

Now, I am going through some personal things in my life however, I am applying what I went through for 5 years and now I am so laying my burdens on the Lord and allowing The Lord to handle them. It all about Trusting and standing on God's word. which is so, Good. God is so Good!