WHEN THE GAP PERIOD BECOMES A WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE

Read: Numbers 14:26- 35
Meditation verse:
“Therefore, their days He consumed in futility and their years in fear” (Psalm 78:33).

A gap period is the season of waiting for God to fulfil a particular expectation. Sometimes this period may linger until it eventually becomes a wilderness experience. The journey to the promised land was supposed to take a few days, but the Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness. The wilderness is a place where water is scarce, where a traveller walks alone devoid of protection and where wild animals live. Such a traveller is bound to experience fear, doubt, and loneliness. The bible often depicts the experience of God’s blessings or presence with the ‘imagery of water’: streams and rivers “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly… He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…” (Psalm 1: 1-3). A wilderness experience is therefore a season where you experience bareness, distress, doubt, and alienation from God.

In a spiritual wilderness, God seems far away from us, distant, absent, and unresponsive (D. W. Ekstrand). You hear nothing, see nothing, and know nothing. At such times, you feel the time slowly passing away and fear that your expectation may never be met. What do you do if you find yourself in such a place?

Examine your life and ask the Holy spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin. Unbelief, disobedience, or rebellion can lead to a wilderness experience. The children of Israel consistently doubted and rebelled against God. Eventually, a whole generation was wiped out and never entered the promised land.

Lean on the One who has control. If there is no unconfessed sin in your life, remain still and continue to wait on God, for in the place of waiting your weariness will be turned to strength. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah40:31). Relax in the knowledge that the One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it in His own time. David spent seasons of his life in the wilderness, either tending to sheep, running from King Saul or from his rebellious son, Absalom. At such times, he kept trusting God.

Focus on God’s faithfulness. Icons of God’s faithfulness in our lives are all over the place. A restored health, miracles of provision, an act of deliverance, a fruitful marriage, or a divine breakthrough. Amid a wilderness experience, David recalled God’s faithfulness “O my God, my soul is cast down within me. Therefore, I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar… The lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime and in the night His song shall be with me” (Psalm 42:6-8). If you don’t reflect on God’s faithfulness in your past, you may never be able to trust Him with your future.

Focus on the now. Work diligently at whatever your hands have found to do today (Ecclesiastes 9:10). There is no wall between the sacred and the secular world. It is all sacred. Whatever God has fired you to do in the now, do it well. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

Lastly, remember that God has a purpose for allowing the wilderness experience. “For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose’ (Romans 8:28). That hold up or delay is working together for your good.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Oke Chinye

*Have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart?*

He says in Mathew 11:28, “come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He longs to give you rest.

Would you like to do so now? Here’s a prayer you can say:

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died to save me from all my sins. Today, I invite you into my heart and I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive all my sins and help me to live my life for You.

If you prayed this prayer, send me an email at rockteachingministry@gmail.com. I would love to pray with you personally and send you a copy of my book; ‘Living the Life’ to encourage you as you begin your new life in Christ.

www.rockteachingministry.org

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Oke Chinye.
Have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart?

He says in Mathew 11:28, “come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He longs to give you rest."

Would you like to do so now? Here’s a prayer you can say:
Dear Jesus, I believe that You died to save me from all my sins. Today, I invite you into my heart and I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive all my sins and help me to live my life for You.

If you prayed this prayer, send me an email at rockteachingministry@gmail.com

I would love to pray with you personally and send you a copy of my book; ‘Living the Life’ to encourage you as you begin your new life in Christ.