Don’t die in the wilderness
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Life feels hard for you sometimes, doesn’t it? You’re dealing with all kinds of struggles, private pain and disadvantages, right? You’re trying to manage things as best as you can, but it gets to be overwhelming some days, yeah? You may have wondered at some point why life has to be so hard for you.
I know the feeling.
When I think about events in my life from childhood until now, it certainly hasn’t been easy for me. From sexual molestation as a six-year-old to life-threatening illnesses as an adult, I have had more than my fair share of pain, sorrow and sickness. I have faced numerous setbacks, struggles and difficulties. The road has been rocky.
There have been not just days, weeks and months, but years of turmoil. It hasn’t been smooth sailing. The waters have been rough.
I’m sure you can relate.
From the outside, you don’t look like what you’ve been through, just as I don’t. But I’m sure you’ve been through a lot. It’s probably also true that there have been days when Satan taunted you relentlessly, proposing that you give up on your faith.
But by the grace of God, despite fierce opposition and unrelenting battles, you made it. You may have cried plenty of days and nights, and felt forsaken during certain periods, but you’re still standing. When you had no tangible evidence that God would bring you out and do what you were believing Him to do, you stood on His word anyway. The Holy Spirit strengthened your determination to stick and stay like permanent adhesive.
So now that you may be fighting a new battle, don’t succumb to doubt. Dig your heels in, set your face like stone, square your shoulders and apply some stubborn faith; some I-shall-not-be-moved faith; some no-matter-what-I-still-believe-God faith; some though-He-slay-me-yet-will-I-trust-Him faith.
Tell yourself, “God didn’t bring me this far, only to bring me this far.” You’re going all the way. You will have everything He has for you. Just believe.
Resist fear and intimidation like Caleb of the tribe of Judah did. We meet this faith-filled man of God in Numbers 13 after the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian slavery. They were getting ready to cross over into their Promised Land, Canaan. The Bible says Moses selected twelve men, one from each tribe, to scope out the land before entering into it.
Among the spies was Caleb.
Sadly, all of the leaders sent in—with the exception of Joshua and Caleb—said they were scared to fight for the territory God said they could have because there were giants there. They were so small in their own eyes that they forgot how big their God was.
What a sad shame.
“This wilderness is a temporary pass-through. You’re headed toward your place of promise. Your season is changing. A greater destiny awaits you!”
But according to verse 30, “Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.’”
Friend, this is one of my all-time favorite sayings in the Bible: we are well able to overcome it.
That’s what faith looks like. Caleb saw the same obstacles and opposition as the other 10 nervous spies. But he chose to respond differently. Instead of focusing on the size of the problem, he focused on the surety of God’s promises. If the Lord said they could possess the land, he believed that they were more than equipped to do it, even in the face of giant obstacles, literally.
And because Caleb believed God, he was blessed. God told him, according to Numbers 14:24, “But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”
Let me reiterate, Caleb received his inheritance because he believed God. But those who didn’t believe were doomed to die in the wilderness.
Friend, don’t die in the wilderness. Don’t stop believing God because you see giants, mountains and hindrances in the way. If God has spoken a promise over you, He will perform it. Everything you need, He will supply. Don’t be defeated in your mindset. Rise above the turmoil and intimidating circumstances with the word of God.
Declare by faith that no weapon formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17); that God will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19); that He is a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1); that when others forsake you, He will take care of you (Psalm 27:10).
Come against worry with the word. Guard your mind and combat the assault of the enemy with the sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17).
Whatever you do, don’t let unbelief rob you of the promise. Don’t let doubt choke out your destiny. Don’t let skepticism ruin your optimism and hope for a brighter future. The Lord is faithful. History is replete with examples of God doing the impossible.
I know personally what He can do, for He has worked miracles in my life. He has healed my body. He has given me provision in times of lack. He wants to do the same thing for you. But God is seeking those who will dare to believe Him.
If you trust Him, you won’t die in the wilderness. You’ll step into your land of promise. You’ll come into your season of release. You’ll reap a reward reserved for the faithful. It is God’s good pleasure to bless you, just don’t let go of your faith.
In the storm, believe. When the wind beats against your house, believe. When dark clouds gather and torrential rains pour down, believe!
To help you do that, I’m stirring James 1:6 NIV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, this day, make a decision that you will not let doubt buffet you about. Cling to the word of God as never before. Declare His promises over your problems. Expect breakthrough to come. Tell yourself, this wilderness is temporary and I will possess the promise.
As long as you hold on to faith, you will possess the promise indeed!
Now let’s pray.
God, clinging to faith is hard when opposition is this strong. So many tangible signs point to my inevitable defeat and demise, and yet, I choose to trust You, oh God. I speak Your word over my life and believe every promise will come to pass. Thank You for the assurance that I am coming out of this wilderness. This setback is temporary and I know that what You have for me is so much greater. I rejoice for it now while I await manifestation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
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