If any of you are like me; it seems that the more I desire
Christ and to grow in my relationship with Him; the more obstacles I face. The obstacles come in various forms from mental
attacks, physical attacks, emotional and spiritually. When I decide that I am going to read and
study the word or take a day of rest for fasting or praying; I am faced with
countless opposition. A very profound,
famous writer who was known as a writer of realism said “The two most important
days in your life is the day you were born and they day you find out why” (Mark
Twain). So, all of us have been born of
the flesh and many of us by the spirit, but a great number of us are still
trying to figure out the why part in that quote. And I am going to go out on a limb to say
that it is because of the why – we experience dark and dry places!
If someone told me 10 years ago that every dark and dry
place I would experience in life was because of my “why” was evolving and that God
was preparing me for this day – to operate as His vessel to empower women
across the world; I would not have believed
them. I have had a lot of great things
that have happened in my life and still happening, but I have also had many
dark and dry days. What I now understand
is that although you go through dark and dry days; that does not mean that your
purpose in God is not being fulfilled.
Many times, dark and dry days are necessary for our growth in God. It is in that dark and dry place that we can
either grow closer to God or to the world.
In that place; the enemy will come to fight you even the more because
although you may not understand yet why you were born – he certainly does and
he is going to try everything in his power to kill, steal and destroy every one
of your dreams, goals and desires to avoid you Living in your Purpose! So, in order to counteract the devil in his
attempt to destroy your purpose in that dark and dry place; there are some
intentional things that you have to do when you are in that place.
Rather you like it or not – there will be many more dry and
dark places ahead and calling on God to deliver you out of that place is not
the answer! Bishop T.D. Jakes said it best “God is not in the business of getting you out
just you can get back into the same mess you were in before. God is not in the business of getting you out
so you can celebrate your freedom and liberty.
To get out of one thing without getting into something else leaves you
into a state of perpetual confusion. One
of the biggest mistakes you can make in your life is to forsake bondage and not
replace it with something spiritual and holy to occupy that space.” So, what
does that means is that – because you are filled with purpose and there are
things that you must fulfill before leaving this earth; you will continue to
experience dry and dark places BUT the good news is that you are not
alone. The other good news is that being
in those places causes you to hunger and thirst after God even the more and
remaining in that place allows you to occupy that space with things that are
spiritual and holy.
So instead of praying that God delivers you from the dry and
dark place; pray that God refuel, refill and revive you in that dark place. Pray that God uses that dry and dark place to
empty you of yourself so that you can be filled with him over and over and over
again. It is in those places that you
will experience God in rare form and you will then be able to figure out the
Why!
I love you so very much but God loves you much more,
Treal of Jill and Treal
