Testing Times in the Desert
by Angela Weir
How often do we have mountain top experiences with God, only to be dragged down again almost immediately afterwards? It seems that those wonderful times when we really feel close to God are often followed by really testing times when we seem to be almost back where we started.
On our training courses and healing retreats we always encourage people to testify to what God has done for them over the short time they have been with us. It is often hard for them to explain and sometimes just a few words like “I know God has done something,” or “I feel different” will be all that they can manage, but those words have been spoken out in the presence of witnesses. In Revelation it says, ‘They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony’ (Revelation 12: 11).
Satan is a thief and a robber and will want to take as much as he can from us, particularly when we have been experiencing the glory times with God. Jesus had just experienced being filled with the Holy Spirit and received affirmation from His Father in front of witnesses (Luke 3: 22) and then He was led into the desert to be severely tempted. In those difficult, testing days He would have had that memory to cling on to. We, too, should hold on to the good things – perhaps share them with others – and remember them during our testing times.
Prayer: Dear Father, there are times when I really struggle and feel so far away from You. I sometimes wonder if You are there at all and yet I know that You are. Thank You that I have experienced truly blessed moments with You and please help me to remember those when times are hard. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Angela Weir has been associated with Ellel Ministries from the very beginning, first as an associate member of the ministry team and later as an associate teacher. She trained as an actress before moving to Cumbria, where she taught drama in a girls’ school. She now teaches and ministers at various Ellel Centres.
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