No One Escapes The WILDERNESS On The Way To The Promised Land. If You Have Never Had A Wilderness Experience, Keep Living. In Our Wilderness Test God Is In Control Of Our Circumstances. Every Test Brings About A Testimony.

 Deuteronomy 1:30-33, “The Lord God is your leader, and he will fight for you with his mighty miracles, just as you saw him do in Egypt. And you know how he has cared for you again and again here in the WILDERNESS, just as a father cares for his child!’ But nothing I said did any good. “They refused to believe the Lord our God who had led them all the way and had selected the best places for them to camp and had guided them by a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of cloud during the day.” (TLB)

Every one of us gets to spend some time in the desert, or the wilderness, as it is often called in the Bible. It is not our permanent home, but it is a temporary part of the journey. Maybe you are in one of those difficult dry spells right now. If so, then it is time to remember that while the desert is hard, it does have a beauty all its own. There are things you see there that you cannot see when you are in the green and blooming times.

God's ancient people learned that when they spent their time in the wilderness. God describes some of that in Deuteronomy 1:30-33. "The Lord your God Who goes before you, He will fight for you just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the WILDERNESS, where you have seen how the Lord your God bore you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place. Yet despite this word, you did not believe (trust, rely on, and remain steadfast to) the Lord your God, who went in the way before you to search out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in the cloud by day." (AMPC)

Wilderness times can be tough for several reasons: you feel depleted, stressed, anxious, lonely, confused, not to mention the fear of what may happen next starts to take over, and sometimes it only plain hurts. And top it all off, the devil's doing everything he can to exploit this vulnerable time in your life, just ask Jesus: Luke 4:1-2, “Then Jesus, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was LED IN [BY] THE [HOLY] SPIRIT. For (during) FORTY DAYS in the WILDERNESS (DESERT), where He was TEMPTED (TRIED, TESTED EXCEEDINGLY) BY THE DEVIL. And He ATE NOTHING DURING THOSE DAYS, and when they were completed, HE WAS HUNGRY.” (AMPC) Yes, even Jesus knows what it feels like to have a wilderness experience. Not only are you in the desert, but you also feel deserted! But notice, the Holy Spirit led Jesus there! And isn’t that one of the scariest things? I mean you expect the devil to come after you, but how do you fight a desert experience when it was the Holy Spirit that led you there in the first place?! Well, as hard as it is to embrace, but the truth is sometimes the Person who ushers you into the desert/wilderness, is the Holy Ghost! That is why you have no reason to fear the experience. The Holy Spirit would never lead you to a place of destruction. It may break you down, but it will eventually build you back up and better than before, especially if you learn all the lessons from the experience! However, another fact is that sometimes your desert/wilderness is not going to be a few days, or even a few months. The Bible says, “…For (during) FORTY DAYS in the WILDERNESS (DESERT)…” Jesus could have snapped His fingers and a legion of angels would have come to His aid, but instead, He endures the desert/wilderness for 40 days. With that, He teaches us how to persevere, endure, go in, go through, and eventually get out! Now, many of us are going through varying levels of pain, hurt, struggle, confusion, and the like, and still, I encourage you to hang in there. Jesus did, and He is our example of how to hold on to God when you are ready to let go of life! For 40 days Jesus was “…TEMPTED (TRIED, TESTED EXCEEDINGLY) BY THE DEVIL…” The word ‘exceedingly’ is defined as ‘to an extreme degree; awful; badly; deadly; seriously; terribly; and wickedly.’ This was no cakewalk! And I am sure yours is not either. The devil was harsh towards Jesus, and he will most certainly be harsh towards you!

Jesus and Job have a lot in common do not you think? Job 1:6-12, “Now there was a day when the sons (the angels) of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and SATAN (THE ADVERSARY AND ACCUSER) ALSO CAME AMONG THEM. And the Lord said to Satan, From where did you come? Then Satan answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it. And the Lord said to Satan, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]? Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing? Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face. And the Lord said to Satan (the adversary and the accuser), Behold, all that he has is in your power, only upon the man himself put not forth your hand. So, Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.” (AMPC) Like Jesus being personally escorted into the desert/wilderness by the Holy Spirit, Job was personally recommended to Satan by God Himself! After all, Satan did not come before God and ask for Job, he simply said that he had come “…from going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it…” He did not request Job. He could have grabbed anybody on earth, but God recommends Job, and not because he deserved to have so much pain and suffering and loss, but because he has already proven that his possessions did possess him. And not only that but he was found faithful when many of us would have thrown in the towel, cursed God and called it quits! So, maybe a good question to ask yourself is am I in this desert/wilderness because of something bad I have done, or because of something good that God is working in my life? Job loss family, property, his wife’s respect, finances, and even impaired health and horrible friends. And yet the Bible says of Job’s experience: Job 42:12-17, “AND THE LORD BLESSED THE LATTER DAYS OF JOB MORE THAN HIS BEGINNING; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. And in all the land there were no women so far as the daughters of Job, and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. AFTER THIS, JOB LIVED 140 YEARS, AND SAW HIS SONS AND HIS SONS’ SONS, EVEN TO FOUR GENERATIONS. SO, JOB DIED, AN OLD MAN AND FULL OF DAYS.” (AMPC) and what about Jesus? Luke 4:13-14, “And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time.” THEN JESUS WENT BACK FULL OF AND UNDER THE POWER OF THE [HOLY] SPIRIT INTO GALILEE, AND THE FAME OF HIM SPREAD THROUGH THE WHOLE REGION ROUND ABOUT.” (AMPC) Will I say the desert/wilderness is a wonderful experience? Absolutely not! But when God is in it, can it turn out to be a wonderful outcome? Yes Indeed!

Deuteronomy 1:29-33, “I tried to relieve your fears: “Do not be terrified of them. God, your God, is leading the way; he is fighting for you. You saw with your own eyes what he did for you in Egypt; you saw what he did in the WIDERNESS, how God, your God, carried you as a father carries his child, carried you the whole way until you arrived here. But now that you are here, you will not trust God, your God—this same God who goes ahead of you in your travels to scout out a place to pitch camp, a fire by night and a cloud by day to show you the way to go.” (MSG)

Maybe the reason God had to remind His ancient people that He was about releasing them and not restricting them, was that their journey included plagues and the wilderness. In other words, for them to be free, they had to go through all those plagues in Egypt and an exceedingly difficult time through the wilderness. And possibly you have been having your own share of plagues and wilderness experiences. But that's not because God does not love you; IT'S BECAUSE HE DOES! He loves you enough to take you through the processes that will set you free and ultimately lead you to the better life He has planned, prepared, prearranged, promised, and predestined just for you.

Jeremiah 29:10-11, “This is God’s Word on the subject… I will show up and take care of you as I PROMISED and bring you back home. I know what I am doing. I have it all PLANNED out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, PLANS to give you the future you hope for.” (MSG); Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God PREDESTINED (PLANNED BEFOREHAND) for us [taking paths which He PREPARED ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He PREARRANGED and made ready for us to live].” (AMPC); Romans 8:29-30, “For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also PREDESTINED to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. And those whom He PREDESTINED, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].” (AMP)

So, do not be confused by the pain of the plagues or by the wounding of the wilderness. Your Heavenly Father has some awesome plans for you, and He's not building a cage to contain your life. He is making something incredibly special for you. After all, you are His child purchased with the blood of His Son! Is there any question how He feels about you?

 When we read from God's Word about desert times it reminds us of several especially important encouragements which the dry times tend to make us forget.

First, THE DESERT IS PART OF THE PLAN. It is God who leads you into a wilderness time, knowing that it will take a wilderness to take you to your next level in Him. Even though the devil was all over Jesus when He spent forty days in the wilderness, the Bible makes it noticeably clear that the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness. The God who loves you passionately has decided that the wilderness is what will bring you the greatest good and Him the greatest glory at this point in your life. So even when God leads you into the desert/wilderness, trust Him and follow with confidence and faith, knowing that God will NEVER lead you astray! Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].” (AMPC); Psalm 18:33, “He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places.” (AMPC); Proverbs 3:5-6, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” (AMPC); 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus, we walk] not by sight or appearance.” (AMPC); Exodus 14:26-31, “Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and horsemen. So, Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength and normal flow when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled into it [being met by it]; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians and shook them off into the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that pursued them; not even one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground during the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus, the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did against the Egyptians, and the people [reverently] feared the Lord and trusted in (relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord and to His servant Moses.” (AMPC) Trust God and Follow His Lead, He Will NEVER Lead You Astray!

Secondly, THE WILDERNESS IS A PLACE OF MIRACLES! It was in a wilderness that God's people saw manna from heaven, water come from rocks, and a pillar of cloud and fire providing daily guidance. If you will remain faithful, even when you do not have the feelings, God will show you His power in the desert in ways you will never see in the Promised Land. Embrace this, the miracles were revealed in the WILDERNESS, not the Promised Land! And truth is, sometimes you have more meaningful experiences and encounters with God in the Valley more than on the Mountain! Yes, it is a hard place, but it will also be a blessed place! Do not quit in the wilderness, do not give up in the desert. There is a miracle on the way, even BEFORE you reach the promised land!

The third desert encouragement is that THE WILDERNESS IS A GROWING TIME. Paul saw his greatest revelations of God (the things you read in the New Testament now) while he was in the desert. But listen to this Scripture in particular: 2 Corinthians 11:23-29, “I have worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I have been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I have been shipwrecked three times and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I have had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I have been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, ENDANGERED BY DESERT SUN and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I have known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather. And that is not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches…” (MSG) Yes, Paul is yet another example of someone who had to endure the desert, but look at all he accomplished, not just after the desert, but IN it! Reminds me of Romans 8:37, “Nay, IN all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (KJV) Remember this: God Can Bless You While You are Still IN the Desert! Do not be in such a hurry to flee the desert/wilderness experience, wait for God to finish all that He is doing in you, with you and for you while you are still there! James 1:2-4, “[Faith Under Pressure] Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. SO, DON’T TRY TO GET OUT OF ANYTHING PREMATURELY. LET IT DO ITS WORK SO YOU BECOME MATURE AND WELL-DEVELOPED, NOT DEFICIENT IN ANY WAY.” (MSG)

And we dare not forget that Jesus emerged from the wilderness, "FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER" and He exploded into His public ministry! God wants to use the desert time to drive you more deeply into Him because He's all you have got there. And as you go deeper, you develop a new spiritual power that prepares you for a whole new level of impact on the other side of the wilderness. This is your encouragement that you will EXIT the desert/wilderness BETTER than you ENTERED it!

Two other desert encouragements; THE WILDERNESS WILL NOT LAST FOREVER. There is a Promised Land on the other side! And the desert is a place where God will carry you when you have got nothing left - like a daddy carries a tired little boy to places that little boy could never go in his own strength. And there is something incredibly special about collapsing on the shoulder of your all-loving, all-powerful Heavenly Daddy. 

Deuteronomy 32:10-14, “He Found Him Out in The Wilderness, In an Empty, Windswept Wasteland. He Threw His Arms Around Him, Lavished Attention on Him, Guarding Him as The Apple of His Eye. He Was Like an Eagle Hovering Over Its Nest, Overshadowing Its Young, Then Spreading Its Wings, Lifting Them into The Air, Teaching Them to Fly. God Alone Led Him; There Was Not A Foreign God in Sight. God Lifted Him onto The Hilltops, So He Could Feast on The Crops in The Fields. He Fed Him Honey from The Rock, Oil from Granite Crags, Curds of Cattle and The Milk of Sheep, The Choice Cuts of Lambs and Goats, Fine Bashan Rams, High-Quality Wheat, And the Blood of Grapes: You Drank Good Wine!” (Msg)

Your assignment in the desert? Keep showing up, keep being faithful even when you do not feel it. If you are in a desert stretch, trust the One who is allowed or directed you to be there. And while you are there, do not miss the strange beauty of the desert. Remember: God is Using the Wilderness to Work for Your Good!

Isaiah 40:3-5, “Thunder in the desert! “Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks. Then God’s bright glory will shine, and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as God has said.” (MSG)

Isaiah 43:16-21, “…Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I am about to do something brand-new. It is bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the DESERT, rivers in the badlands…” (MSG)

Jeremiah 31:2-6, “This is the way God put it: “They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!” God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I will start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You will resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You will go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, and sit back and enjoy the fruit—oh, how you will enjoy those harvests! The time’s coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let us go to Zion, go to meet our God!’” (MSG)

Hosea 13:4-6, “I’m still your God, the God who saved you out of Egypt. I am the only real God you have ever known. I am the one and only God who delivers. I took care of you during the wilderness hard times, those years when you had nothing. I took care of you, took care of all your needs, gave you everything you needed. You were spoiled. You thought you did not need me. You forgot me.” (MSG)

Hosea 2:14-15, “And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again. I am taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I will court her. I will give her bouquets of roses. I will turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She’ll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt.” (MSG)

Miracles are meant to do more than fascinate our soul; they are meant to convince us that God’s faithfulness will not fail when the dry desert days come.

Wilderness experiences remind us of our helplessness and ultimate dependence on God. God is still at work, even in our darkest wilderness. You and I can claim that assurance today and every day.

Worship in the wilderness. Worshipping in the wilderness might be the last thing we feel like doing. However, when we worship, we are speaking out words in faith.

In Our Wilderness Test God Is In Control Of Our Circumstances, even when we do not understand what he is doing. Embrace your wilderness. I thank God for my wilderness. Every test brings about a testimony.

Remain faithful in the wilderness. The Wilderness Experience will build you up.

“Keep bubbling over with abundant joy, peace, and love. You may be the only well-watered oasis for someone going through a DESERT in their lives.” (Caroline Naoroji)

“The same God that made a way through the waters will make a way through the WILDERNESS.”

“No one escapes the WILDERNESS on the way to the Promised Land.”

“The Promised Land always lies on the other side of a WILDERNESS.”

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

We All Go Through Tough Seasons In Life, Just Remember WHO Is In Charge Of The Seasons And Changing Them! When God Speaks Something Is Going To Change! She Said To The Man Of God "It Is Well"

  

2 Kings 4:8-36, “One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a rich and influential woman lived, who insisted on his eating a meal. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he stopped there for a meal. And she said to her husband, behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by continually. Let us make a small chamber on the [housetop] and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then whenever he comes to us, he can go [up the outside stairs and rest] here. One day he came and turned into the chamber and lay there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to Gehazi, say now to her, you have been most painstakingly and reverently concerned for us; what is to be done for you? Would you like to be spoken for to the king or to the commander of the army? She answered, I dwell among my own people [they are sufficient]. Later Elisha said, what then is to be done for her? GEHAZI ANSWERED, SHE HAS NO CHILD AND HER HUSBAND IS OLD. He said, Call her. [Gehazi] called her, and she stood in the doorway. Elisha said, at this season when the time comes round, YOU SHALL EMBRACE A SON. She said, No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid. BUT THE WOMAN CONCEIVED AND BORE A SON AT THAT SEASON THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AS ELISHA HAD SAID TO HER. When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father with the reapers. BUT HE SAID TO HIS FATHER, MY HEAD, MY HEAD! THE MAN SAID TO HIS SERVANT, CARRY HIM TO HIS MOTHER. AND WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT TO HIS MOTHER, HE SAT ON HER KNEES TILL NOON, AND THEN DIED. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door upon him and went out. And she called to her husband and said, send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may go quickly to the man of God and come back again. And he said, why go to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath. AND SHE SAID, IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT. Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, ride fast; do not slacken your pace for me unless I tell you. So, she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite. RUN TO MEET HER AND SAY, IS IT WELL WITH YOU? WELL WITH YOUR HUSBAND? WELL WITH THE CHILD? AND SHE ANSWERED, IT IS WELL. When she came to the mountain to the man of God, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came to thrust her away, but the man of God said, let her alone, FOR HER SOUL IS BITTER AND VEXED WITHIN HER, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me. THEN SHE SAID, DID I DESIRE A SON OF MY LORD? Did I not say, do not deceive me? Then he said to Gehazi, gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go lay my staff on the face of the child. If you meet any man, do not salute him. If he salutes you, do not answer him. The mother of the child said, As the Lord lives and as my soul lives, I will not leave you. And he arose and followed her. Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the child’s face, but the boy neither spoke nor heard. So, he went back to meet Elisha and said to him, the child has not awakened. WHEN ELISHA ARRIVED IN THE HOUSE, THE CHILD WAS DEAD AND LAID UPON HIS BED. So, he went in, shut the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. He went up and lay on the child, put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself on him and embraced him, THE CHILD’S FLESH BECAME WARM. Then he returned and walked in the house to and fro and went up again and stretched himself upon him. AND THE CHILD SNEEZED SEVEN TIMES, AND THEN OPENED HIS EYES. Then [Elisha] called Gehazi and said, Call this Shunammite. So, he called her. AND WHEN SHE CAME, HE SAID, TAKE UP YOUR SON.” (AMPC)

But, before we get to talking about our Great Physician, let us talk about our Scripture above.

The Shunammite Woman did such a wonderful thing for Elisha the Prophet. In return, he asked his servant Gehazi what can be done for her for her kindness. Gehazi notes that she does not have a child. And then the prophecy goes forth that she would embrace a child. In time, she does, a son. I guess you would ask what is so bad about that? Well, nothing is…. until you keep reading. “…When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father with the reapers. BUT HE SAID TO HIS FATHER, MY HEAD, MY HEAD! THE MAN SAID TO HIS SERVANT, CARRY HIM TO HIS MOTHER. AND WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT TO HIS MOTHER, HE SAT ON HER KNEES TILL NOON, AND THEN DIED…” Can you imagine losing a blessing that you did not even ask for in the first place? She did not ask for a son, but she was given one. And in old age no less! She goes from having her LIVE son CARRIED to her to having her DEAD son LAID on her knees. From GOOD too BAD in one moment! How many of us can relate to that?! One moment all is WELL and then in the blink of an eye, all is HELL! That’s like having a job today and standing on the unemployment line tomorrow; having a refrigerator full of food today to standing in line waiting to be next at the soup kitchen tomorrow; from having a clean bill of health to the doctor diagnosing a disease; from a happy marriage to a miserable divorce; from well-adjusted children to pregnant and drug addicted teens; from visiting your parents at home to visiting their graves in the cemetery; from having a best friend to having the worse enemy; from purchasing a house to reading the eviction notice on the front door; from starting a ministry to watching it stop; from opening a business to watching it close; from attending school to dropping out; from expecting a baby to leaving the hospital empty-handed. Truth is, we have all been there, and to tell a harder truth, many of us are STILL there. So, clearly, we can all relate to this woman’s hurt, pain and frustration.

Before we address the above story, listen to this.

Maybe you are in a similar situation. Be it physical, emotional, mental, financial, spiritual, you have many symptoms that you may have thought were small and unimportant and insignificant…at first. However, now a lot more time has passed, and things are not getting BETTER…but WORSE! Well, sometimes our symptoms must get so severe, so painful that we just must finally go to find out what is wrong, and to be healed by the only One who can heal us! However, there are some things that only the Great Physician can fix, heal, make whole and well!

Then, the Bible goes on to say: “…THAT I MAY GO QUICKLY TO THE MAN OF GOD and come back again. And he said, why go to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath. AND SHE SAID, IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT…” For one, I love that as painful as the situation was for her, she immediately went into action. And that action was not to her family and friends, but she went straight to her husband and did not even ask questions or hold a full conversation about what happened. Nope, she went straight to the Man of God. And one of the things we must learn to do is to go straight to God. Not even to family, friends and certainly not to social media or to host a pity party for our feelings/emotions. No, head straight to God! And do so without delay! She not only wanted to get to the Man of God, but the Scripture says: “…THAT I MAY GO QUICKLY…” Enter into prayer with God as quickly as this woman went to enter the presence of the prophet! Do not try to figure anything out, do not listen to any second-hand advice, especially from people who have never walked in the shoes your feet are in. Go straight to God…QUICKLY!

Now another thing to acknowledge is her speech, she says, “…IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT…” Now, how can this woman make such a strong declaration that “…IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT…” and the son just died! I will be the first to tell you that words of faith are not the first words that precede out of my mouth when a life struggle hits. But I am encouraged by this woman to work on changing the declaration of my lips when life hits below the belt. She already spoke a word of faith before she even left the house! She did not even get to the prophet yet, and still she spoke “…IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT…” The term ‘All Right’ is defined as: ‘satisfactory; agreeable; safe; a term of approval; beyond doubt; certainly; fine; good; and WELL,’ She spoke an IT IS WELL, while she was still in the WORST of it! Let this be your encouragement today that you too can speak words of faith that “…IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT…” it is WELL already! Ask God to increase your faith; renew your hope and deepen your trust. Call out to God quickly with everything you have within you! And speak your words of faith BEFORE anything about your situation even changes!

The Bible continues: “…Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, RIDE FAST; DO NOT SLACKEN YOUR PACE FOR ME unless I tell you. So, she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel…” Another thing you need to beware of is distractions when you are trying to get to God! Let nothing and no one hinder you from reaching your help in God. And there is a statement that people make that is not necessarily a bad statement, but one you should pay attention to. People will say, ‘I know what that’s like, I’ve been there, I’ve experienced that too.’ They are not being mean at all, and many are really and honestly trying to be of assistance and comfort and encouragement. However, when you have a situation that nobody, but God can fix, do not waste your time listening to the stories about other folks’ tools in their toolbox that they used to fix their situation. No, ignore all distractions and get to God quickly!

And what blesses my soul is not even the son being revived, but listen to the Word of God: “…RUN TO MEET HER AND SAY, IS IT WELL WITH YOU? WELL WITH YOUR HUSBAND? WELL WITH THE CHILD? AND SHE ANSWERED, IT IS WELL…” For the life of me I could not figure out why this woman could respond to the prophet like this, because in my eyes, it was not well at all! No, it was not well with her, she just loss her son; and the husband likewise loss his son as well as his wife just took off to see the prophet and left him back at the house with the dead son; and clearly if the child is dead, there is no way it is well with him! And still she responds: “…IT IS WELL…” Could you respond “…IT IS WELL…” like this even BEFORE the situation changes? Let today be the day that we all increase our words of faith, no matter what we are facing!

One of the things I think really messes us up is our lack of exposing vulnerabilities. Listen to this: “…When she came to the mountain to the man of God, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came to thrust her away, but the man of God said, let her alone, FOR HER SOUL IS BITTER AND VEXED WITHIN HER, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me. THEN SHE SAID, DID I DESIRE A SON OF MY LORD? Did I not say, do not deceive me?” She stayed on her feet when it first happened, but when she gets to the prophet, her vulnerability and pain are revealed. She clings to his feet. And even the prophet declares that she is bitter and vexed. Yes, we need to speak words of faith, however, do not silence your vulnerable voice either. Yes, get to God, and when you do, do not attempt to put on any airs, be honest with God about everything you are experiencing. All of it! Because there is truthfully no point to coming to God and then not being honest about all you are coming to Him with.

“…The mother of the child said, As the Lord lives and as my soul lives, I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU.” The prophet gave his servant Gehazi an assignment concerning the son, and you would think that the woman would be so happy that the servant had a plan from the prophet to help the son, and so she would cling to servant and head out with him back to the house, but nope! She says, “…I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU.” Listen, you have gone through too much to leave the presence of God now with anyone BUT God! So, what is the prophet’s response? “…And he arose and followed her...”

Now, listen to how all this ends: “…WHEN ELISHA ARRIVED IN THE HOUSE, THE CHILD WAS DEAD AND LAID UPON HIS BED. So, he went in, shut the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. He went up and lay on the child, put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself on him and embraced him, THE CHILD’S FLESH BECAME WARM. Then he returned and walked in the house to and for and went up again and stretched himself upon him. AND THE CHILD SNEEZED SEVEN TIMES, AND THEN OPENED HIS EYES. Then [Elisha] called Gehazi and said, Call this Shunammite. So, he called her. AND WHEN SHE CAME, HE SAID, TAKE UP YOUR SON.” (AMPC)

There are times when I am the most impatient person in all the world, especially when I am going through a hard place and need God to fix it! In my head, I left the house, went to the prophet (who represents and speaks on God’s behalf as His mouthpiece), the prophet has returned to my home with me, so surely my son will revive as soon as the prophet walks through the door, but not so! It was a whole process that the prophet went through before the son’s flesh even gets warm. Which is why I love the fact that the prophet went in with the dead son and shut the door on the two of them. Sometimes, not only am I impatient in waiting through the process, but I also want to be in the room so I can micro-manage God! How ridiculous is that?! But what ultimately happens is that at the right time she is called into the room to see that her son is back well, she can once again take up her son. The same son that was carried to her alive, and laid on her and died, would once again be taken up by her hands very much alive yet again. I am so extremely encouraged to know that no matter how WORSE things get, in God’s time He will make ALL THINGS WELL AGAIN, for He still does ALL THINGS WELL!

Embrace the hard times in life, no matter how bad they get. You still serve a particularly good God and there is nothing so bad that He cannot make better…including YOU!

Romans 8:28, “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” (AMPC)

We All Go Through Tough Seasons in Life, Just Remember WHO Is in Charge of The Seasons and Changing Them! When God Speaks Something Is Going to Change!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, “TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, AND A TIME FOR EVERY MATTER OR PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted, A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up, A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, A time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away, A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak, A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What profit remains for the worker from his toil? I have seen the painful labor and exertion and miserable business which God has given to the sons of men with which to exercise and busy themselves. HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun, but GOD ALONE CAN SATISFY], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (AMPC)

Jeremiah 30:17, “FOR I WILL RESTORE HEALTH TO YOU, AND I WILL HEAL YOUR WOUNDS, SAYS THE LORD…!” (AMPC)

Let This Be the Year That No Matter What You Face, You Will Face It with the Declaration That it is Already Alright! Even When it Gets Worse, I Know God Will Eventually Make It Well...in His Time, in His Way!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

If Jesus Wants You To Do It, No Matter How Beyond Your Capability It May Be – He Will Give You Whatever It Takes To Get It Done! We Are Settling For The Mediocre When We Are Wired For The Miraculous.

 I have quite a few social media sites. With that said, unfortunately, it gives people the misconception that I am Ms. Technology, when that could not be further from the truth! For instance, as much as I use my cellphone, I know extraordinarily little about how it really functions, or how to use it to its full capacity. And the reason why? Because outside of making a call, receiving a call, or sending a text, I really do not care to know much else! However, I have come to find out that is to my own loss. You see, truth is, there are so many buttons and gadgets that I really do not want to take the time to figure out. Honestly, I look at them and simply ignore them. And what makes matters worse is that my phone was not just handed to me. It came in a box with a Manual for Maximum Usage! Have I read the manual? Absolutely not!

Finally, I got tired of everybody telling me how awesome my phone is and all the great things it can do. So, I enlisted the help of one of my IT friends to pick his brain. And to my amazement, I could not believe all the things I was able to do, that I was not doing, only because I did not know that I could! I was so comfortable with what I knew that I did not want to put in the work to find out what I really needed to know. And what I needed to know was that my comfort was crippling my capability! Now, at the click of one button I can access all my schedules (and finally avoid so many scheduling conflicts because who knew my phone could organize my dates in priority without my help?). With one button I can check all my email accounts. With one button I could have all my social media sites on one page. I could even control what goes on in my house, while I am away, all by my phone! And all of this was at my fingertips, but I was too complacent to grab a hold of its full capability!

Now, let us see what the Bible has to say about this. Matthew 14:25-29 reads, “And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!” Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come!” So, Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” (AMP).

All the disciples were trying to do is ride out the storm. But Peter suddenly got a glimpse of the power of his Master and of something supernatural he could do if he risked everything on Jesus. And suddenly Peter was doing what people do not do. He was walking on water!

Jesus may be preparing you to step up to something far more supernatural than you have ever been or you have ever done before. In fact, if you are anything like me, He has made your heart restless for more so you would get out of the boat and start walking toward Him in an exciting new way. Truth is, there are quite a few endeavors that you have had your heart set on for quite a while now. And fear and nervousness about stepping into something new, uncomfortable, and unfamiliar is honestly terrifying! But you do not want to miss a moment because of a minute of insecurity. 

If Jesus Wants You To Do It – No Matter How Beyond Your Capability It May Be – He Will Give You Whatever It Takes To Get It Done!

A lot of our Christian lives are like my multi-faceted cellphone. We are settling for a level that is far below where we could be living. We are looking at all those spiritual buttons and gadgets. Maybe we even know some other people who have already tapped into those capabilities, but we are settling for a powerless life when Christ in us wants to make our life powerful. We Are Settling For The Mediocre When We Are Wired For The Miraculous.

Who knows what will happen if you finally decide to get out the boat and apply for the mortgage, the business, student, or car loan? Who knows what will happen if you finally decide to get out the boat and head that ministry or start a new one? Who knows what will happen if you finally decide to get out the boat and try that, or go there? Truth is, being inside the boat, especially during a storm, seems like the safest, best, and most comfortable, and sensible place to be. But if Jesus isn’t in the boat, do you really think it is the best place to be? If He is outside the boat, even in the storm, don’t you think it is better to be where Christ is than where your Cushion is?

We have the Holy Spirit of Almighty God living in us. You have backing you up the authority that Jesus has over everything in this universe. You have Jesus’ resurrection power in your life. Question is: So why aren’t we living like it? Are we settling for only pushing a couple of God’s buttons when there are so many more that could open a whole new frontier for us?

We need to be reading the Manual. You know that is the Bible, and you need to be reading it every single day. Not just for theology, not just for a lesson to teach or a Word to preach. But looking for the keys to powerful faith and then using them. And tell the Lord, “Lord, I want the “something more” you’ve made my heart hungry for. Then surrender yourself in a new, fresh way to Him. With all the things that are going on in your life now, update that old surrender. Let go of those areas that you have insisted on controlling. Get out of that safe little boat and dare to walk where you have never walked before!

Facts: You will never get THERE staying HERE! Selah!

Yes, this requires chance, risks, the probability that it will not work, even failure. And yet I challenge you to try it anyway!

Think about it: Can you imagine how David’s story would have turned out if he stayed in the field with the sheep because he had become comfortable in what he is used to doing? What if Abraham decided not to leave his people and country? What if Noah decided he did not want to chance looking silly building an ark? What if Moses’ stutter kept his mouth shut? What if Esther thought that she was not good enough since she was an orphan? What if Deborah said, ‘no thanks, I’ll just stay in the back since men go in the front’? What if Paul thought his past was too bad for him to have a better future? What if Peter thought his denial would lead to the Lord’s ultimate denial? What if Hannah decided to accept her barrenness as this is just the cards I have been dealt? What if Joshua and Caleb agreed that the majority was right? What if Rahab thought my profession will hinder me from protection? What if Mary said the public scandal would be too much for me to bear, kindly use someone else?

Can you imagine the tragedy of having their stories re-written with the pen of fear?

Today, listen to what your manual is telling you: 

Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (AMP).

Matthew 17:20, “… for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have [living] faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and [if it is God’s will] it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (AMP).

Mark 11:23, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power] but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will].” (AMP).

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]” (AMP)

Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,” (AMP).

Like my cellphone, when you read the manual, you will be amazed at all you can do! So, stop allowing your comfort to cripple your capability!

The word “cripple” is defined as “unable to walk or move properly through disability or injury; to make someone unable to move or walk properly; to cause severe and disabling damage to something”. And that is exactly what your comfort is doing! It is crippling your spiritual walk! When something or someone is cripple, their walk is unsteady and unstable. Reminds me of James 1:8, “being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides]” (AMP). 

You never want fear and comfort to cause you to be unstable, because that will cause you to think ‘I can’t do this’; to feel like ‘I’m not strong enough to accomplish this’; and then make poor decisions like ‘let someone else who is more qualified attempt this.’ 

However, that is not how your story is going to end! Today is the day you find your courage, your strength, and your faith. Today is the day you deliberately decide I am not staying in this comfort zone any longer. I may fall, I may fail, I may get it wrong, but I will not get stuck in this place of mediocrity any longer. Today, I am getting out of the boat! Yes, I know no one has ever done it before; yes, I know it’s safer in the boat during the storm; yes, I know I’m taking a big risk and chance; yes, I know those who are in the boat are probably talking about me making the dumb decision to do something new, uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and different; yes, I know they’re sitting in the boat thinking I’m crazy for even trying this; yes, I know they’re waiting for me to sink so they can say I told you so; yes, I know getting out of the boat to walk on water is strange, nuts, odd, and even dangerous. AND YES, I’M STILL GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY! Selah!

Think of all the inventors and inventions. Can you imagine if they allowed the ridiculousness of doing something different to stop them from trying? We would not have lights, trains, planes, cars, computers, medicine, washing machines, or cellphones! People on transplant lists would just have to die because who is crazy enough to try and replace a heart or kidney? 

It is a new day, a new month, and a new year! Don’t you want better this year than last year? Well then, do something better! Do something different! Do something new!

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” (Albert Einstein)

So, this year, stretch yourself; challenge yourself; dare yourself; compete with yourself; push yourself; encourage yourself; motivate yourself!

Remember this: There Is No GROWTH in Comfort Zones; Only Stagnation!

Ronald E. Osborn said, “Undertake something difficult; it will do you good. Unless you try something beyond what you have already mastered, you’ll never grow.”

Let us look briefly at Luke 5:4:

“…Now GO out where it is deeper and let down your nets to catch some fish.” (NLT); “…PUSH out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” (ISV)

The word “Go” in its simplest form means “To Move to Or from a Place” And that is what you need to do if you are going to get what you have never gotten before! You are going to have to Move from Where You Are and Move Towards Where You Need to Be! You Cannot Get It Standing Still or Staying Where You Are! Your Destiny Is Not on a Shallow Shore, it is Out in The Deep Sea, So Get Up Off Your Hind Parts and GO! Move Out into the Deep!

The word “Push” in its simplest form means “To Exert Force So as To Move from and Move To.” Listen, You Are Not Going to Get This Passively! You are going to have to Exert Force! Which is why Comfort Zones are so Dangerous! They make you Complacent! And worse yet, they make you Stagnant!  

The word “Complacent” means “Smug and uncritically satisfied with oneself or one’s achievements” Which is why so many miss out on greater blessings because they have become so satisfied with where they are currently and what they have achieved and attained thus far! It is Latin Origin “Complacere” means “To Please”. And that is all they did, was reach a certain goal, and sit back with the 3^rd place ribbon in their hands and never getting back in the next race to try for the number one slot! Do not Do It! Do not Become Complacent! There Is Far Too Much MORE for You to Attain, But You have Got to Believe You Can and Then Exert Force to Attain It!  

The word “Stagnant” means “Motionless and often having an unpleasant smell as a consequence.” Do not Let This Happen to You! Stagnant Water Stinks because it goes No Where! So, animals, go to the bathroom in Stagnant Water! And any waste just lying around gets stuck in Stagnant Water furthering its Awful Smell! Warning: Gossip Garbage Is Dumped in the Lives of Stagnant People! After All, they are Going No Where and Doing Nothing and So Everyone with Everything and Anything Just Dumps and Deposits! On the other hand. When You’re Moving You Have No Time for Mess! So, do not Just Stand There…MOVE…AND LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!

You have been HERE too long, today you are moving over THERE!

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” (Neale Donald Walsh)

“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” (Author Unknown)

“The hardest thing to do is leaving your comfort zone. But you have to let go of the life you’re familiar with and take the risk to live the life you dream about.” (T. Arigo)

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” (John Maxwell)

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” (Brian Tracey)

“Like fish in a bowl, we often just accept it for what it is and always has been, unaware that there’s an entire ocean of possibility out there.” (Kacey Cardin)

“If we are not a little bit uncomfortable every day, we’re not growing. All the good stuff is outside our comfort zone.” (Jack Canfield)

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)

“The sooner you step away from your comfort zone, you’ll realize that it really wasn’t all that comfortable.” (Eddie Harris, Jr.)

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good and go for the great.” (Steve Prefontaine)

“Life’s like working out; there’s no pain in the comfort zone, but is that really where you want to live?” (Robin Sharma)

“If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” (Thomas Jefferson)

“If we all did the things, we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” (Thomas Edison)

“God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, He will increase our capability.” (Neal A. Maxwell)

“Don’t limit yourself to someone else’s opinion of your capabilities. Be you. Dream, plan, execute!” (Dr. Steve Maraboli)

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org