Who is this coming out of the wilderness ...

There is something so beautiful about suffering. Something so captivating about a broken heart. There is something so compelling about loss.

I think it's because HE draws us to these places. I think that HE might lure us into the richness of His heart by going through the wilderness. I can't recall the address but a scripture comes to mind- she (us) will make the valley of achor (weeping/ bitterness) a door of hope.
There is something beautiful that happens to the beloved when we can barely even walk on our own. I can almost hear the incredulity in the enemy's voice. "who IS THIS?!!?". He might be asking that because the person he tried to break in the wilderness, the soul he tried to cause
to doubt, the one he tried to tempt, he actually can not recognize that soul anymore. Maybe when we go through a wilderness / heart breaking experience, we have an opportunity to LEAN on HIM, Our Beloved Jesus, maybe in the leaning on/into we let His strength be shown perfect(ly able) to carry us. Maybe we get so close that people can't tell where He ends and we begin!

Because, in brokeness, only in suffering, are we made perfect. Perfect in our understanding of the full nature of the heart of God. Perfect in our faith being put into action in the face of opposition.

All throughout scripture, and in modern film, my heart ( and maybe yours too) is gripped with stories of enduring through hardships- of faith being actually lived out ( not theorized) in the midst of confusion.

I love the overcomers! Because I see Jesus swell with affection for those who prevail.

So I say again, who is this coming out of the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?

Honestly- I hope it's me. I hope it's you.
Oh imagine! Leaning into HIM so close that we begin to even smell like He does!!! Oh the invisible fragrant aroma of HIS preence! The invisible fragrance of brokeness! One thing do I desire, oh is to see you! To walk like you, to talk like you, to sing like you, to love like you, to love like you, to be like you,'to run with you- to be made whole! You will hear us, oh God; you will help us, oh God! Have mercy! Have mercy! We will be healed! Yes God, we will be healed! Yes God-

Oh Kevin Prosch songs are so good...I just couldn't help that outburst!

Because I am witnessing my friends, people I love, leaning on their beloved as they walk through the wilderness. It's transforming them, it's transforming me. What a wonder that this can only happen on earth, in the middle of a shit storm, Jesus is allowing us to know a side of the Father we can only see from here. Praise God for suffering! Praise Him for brokeness! Praise Him for the valley!!! Praise Him for the pain, for the sorrow, for the desert! Hallelujah to the God who leads us through the desert! Who gives us grace to transform the valley of weeping into the doorway of hope!!!

High praise- thanks be to God!!!


...even if it does really really hurt. ( which of course, it does)