Lessons in the Wilderness

This isn't primarily an update about Lilly; however, since there have been so many praying for her and asking how she is doing, I'm happy to report she is doing much better and believe she is coming "out of the woods." Her chest x-rays came back looking quite good, which was an answer to prayer. Her CT scan of her sinuses is in a few weeks and we are hoping and praying again that all will be clear.

The extra treatments she's in the middle of right now are a total drag to us and especially to her, but we continue to keep perspective as there are others suffering at much deeper levels than we are. The truth remains that no matter where any of us are or have been in our suffering, God is always enough. It's a blessing to see that unfold...to be able to see it, feel it, and taste it.

It hasn't always been that way. Not with only the journey we've been on with our daughter, but all of it. Life. Marriage. Kids. God.

These truths have been laid on my heart, lately & the heart-wrenching words in Hosea have become very dear to me:

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor ('trouble') a door of hope." Hosea 2:14-15 ESV.

It wasn't until I heard this verse for the first time that I actually...got it. That was me. Even though I considered myself a "Christian" I felt very far from Him.

And in His sovereignty, He allowed that wilderness in my life. The time when I wasn't really trusting Him. The time I didn't really feel love for Him. The days of uncertainty and fear that haunted me. THEN, there in the wilderness, in His perfect timing, began to lead me out of it. And the best part...was how. Harshly? Cruelly? It's what I deserved. It's what Israel deserved. It's what Hosea's wife deserved. But He spoke tenderly to her. Tenderly.

When he dealt with me tenderly, as any wise father will with his daughter or Godly husband will with his wife, it began my understanding of Him. His true character and nature. It also began my love for Him. And from that everything flowed. I do not fear because I know His sovereignty. I trust because I know He loves me. I love my husband because I understand unselfishness. I forgive because He bears the weight of my sin on the cross. And with all of it, I'm still just a sinner saved by His grace. And it keeps me coming back to the foot of the cross.

I feel there are so many still in the wilderness around me. It's not a fun place to be. There's no life there. If you would allow me to encourage you: don't stay there. Soften your heart and begin to let Him lead you out of it. For me that was sincerely asking God to help me, guide me, show me. It was asking God to bring Godly women into my life that could journey with me. It was being honest with myself. It was learning & listening to teachers of the Word and reading the Word myself. It was reading sound books about God and not about how to fix or modify me.

Here's the deal: on the other side is what God desires for you; the deepest, richest life that is only possible with Him. God desires our joy! But first and foremost He desires our holiness. To get us there, he may need to bring us to the wilderness. Like John Piper says, God is the ultimate surgeon. He may need to cut and it may hurt, but ultimately it's for our healing. It's to rid us of the things that are killing us...the things that are robbing true joy to come. Don't settle for the shadow of happiness in this life. There is deep, rich, beautiful joy that awaits in this life that you can feel, touch, and taste. And it only comes from God...the God who finds you in the wilderness and as you nervously cower as He draws near, speaks to you tenderly.

Mindy