Are you going through a brilliant refining process at the very same time you expected a blessing?
There are just a handful of times where it is written “Jesus loved so and so,” but it is written, regarding one family: “Jesus loved Martha, her sister and Lazarus.” (John 11:6) When Jesus heard his friend was sick and that He needed to hurry and help him… John 11:6 says, ”He abode TWO DAYS STILL in the same place where He was.” Notice the sacred writer added “still.” No doubt the person who delivered the urgent telegram watched and waited and waited and returned and gave the report. “Did you give Him the message?” “He did what? He set up another day of meetings?”
This seeming indifference to their pain fed directly into the mouth of the accuser who whispered to the sisters, “If Jesus loved any of you, he would have come here sooner.” Therefore Martha said verbatim, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” In other words—”If You loved him or loved us why did You let this happen? It didn’t have to be this way.”
Welcome to the wilderness. The place where you feel overlooked and forgotten. What you once longed for is so delayed or denied, you wrestle with thoughts you never had before. You question the very love of God for you. Is this so strange? This is what Mary and Martha wrestled with.
But what was the truth? So far from Lazarus being overlooked or unloved, the thing God did next was greater than the thing they had been praying for! You wanted healing? Well Jesus healed everyone who came to Him….nothing unique about that in His meetings. But this particular healing would be so dramatic, it was necessary for everyone to know just how far gone the patient was. This thing will glorify God.
The Prophet John was called “to prepare a people” to be a highway for the coming of the Lord. Where is the highway formed? In the desert! Where is the desert? It is in the barren, untamed and uncultivated territory…in people.
It is “heart” stuff at a level we have not seen. Hence….”the spirit and power of Elijah” comes to “turn the HEART of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.” (Luke 1:17) What is the wisdom of the just? A new heart-level obedience to what pleases the Father.
You may enter what seems like a wilderness season, but it is not what you think. It’s all about making you ready for something huge. Maybe there are things that need to happen IN YOUR LIFE to prepare you for what God wants to happen THROUGH YOUR life. Like Moses in the desert or Jesus in Nazareth, God often hides us away in the interest of something greater.
He draws us away from the things we are doing, in order to lead us into the better thing. The stuff He wants to do through us. Dare I say He even risks disappointing us in the things we wanted Him to do, so that He could shape us to do something greater for Him. Or in Lazarus' case, we become the sign that causes others to see the wonders of the Lord.
Your reversal is a set-up to reveal His glory!
Thank you, Lance. Although a stressful time for many including myself, this “wilderness” feels different than what we have been experiencing the last few years. God is refining us in a way we are finally “seeing” as it comes to fruition. Keep the faith. He Lives!
My son is going through a divorce. This is the worst trial I have seen him in.
They have 8 children. I believe that most men get unfair treatment in the process.
I think that later he will be a counselor or teacher. But he has lived with me for over a year and the turnaround is long overdue. I believe that all of our families are under attack.
Lord, make a way for our families to be a reflection of Kingdom living. Bring heart change and protect the children, in the name of Jesus.
Brilliant, Lance. Thank you. The timing is perfect for me. We just transitioned from living and serving the Church in Northern Ireland for the last 5 years.
It’s been a tough, strange, weird place to be in now that we are “home”. “Home” currently is my wilderness.
Thanks for the reminder, the encouragement, and the faithfulness of His ways, that aren’t our ways, but they are the best ways!
Thank you. This speaks directly to my season.
When a person was able to go to Jesus personally when He walked the earth and ask for healing it ALWAYS happened immediately, no waiting, no “standing in faith” no failures, ever, never. Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. Why when someone comes to Jesus today, for healing does it not always manifest immediately and without fail?
Hi Lance, hope you are well and abundantly blessed. I thought the Lord was asking me not to drink wine for Lent!!! But it was to Stop!!! I enjoyed a glass or Two when we celebrated with family. So I have, and it has not been a prob. So I said to my youngest Son, a Christian, “ Wonder what I am going to be giving up nxt?!” I have come of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, in fact all I have is messenger. We spend so much time looking at these, when we could be spending more time in His presence. He is the lover of my soul Lance. I want to reach my Destiny here on this earth. A young 71, but so much still to do. Love your teachings. We are alike, shy, introverted, NOT!!!😂Take great care, God bless from Bonnie 🏴🦅🙏💕
Perhaps the wilderness is where we must die to self, Die to the flesh. When God smells our flesh rotting then He says aha now they are ready for there calling.
Dear Dr. Lance Wallnau,
Thank you for this message “Welcome to the Wilderness”.
It is a great encouragement to me.
I thank God for giving it to you out of His word.
Many blessings and
Love to you and Annabelle
Kerry Lee Angel 🇦🇺
Hello Lance,
Thank you for this timely message. I have and am waiting for several things to happen.
A breakthrough with my Son who does not talk to me for a number of years.
A healing from Multiple Sclerosis, I’m in a wheelchair now. I’ve had much prayer and still have people praying everyday for me.
This blessed me as God will receive Greater Glory when it happens.
God Bless Wendy
Thank you so much!
It explains my last many years after I
got closer to the Lord than I could ever imagine!!