Roads in the Wilderness

I was a teenager when I came to know Christ.  Before that, I had spent many years living for myself, my desires, and my pleasures.  That behavior and rebellion, lead to lots of trouble and sadness, even though my sole purpose was to be happy and have as much fun as I could.  I came to realize that I didn’t have friends I could trust or depend on and that I was making decisions that were unwise and foolhardy.

In a moment of great crisis Christ called me to Himself and lead me out of that life.  It was one of those miraculous conversion stories that you hear of someone being pulled out of the gutter and instantly transformed by the power and Grace of God.  I’ve experience God’s supernatural power to stop addiction instantly, to change my mind from desiring harmful and hurtful things, to only wanting good and pure things that come from Him.  I’m so Blessed to hold that testimony as mine….even though I was just ‘along for the ride’, so to speak.  God is the designer of that testimony, I just wear it.  Full well knowing that without it I’d be bare and uncovered.  He’s the one who gave me the faith to believe in HIM, I didn’t muster it up from nothing.  He called me to him and I, like a man drowning in the ocean, simply reached for the life-preserver.

I’ve been so blessed in my life since my salvation day.  I can’t look back to that without feeling totally unworthy of His gift of life.  I often wonder why of all the people who are lost in this world……..those millions of people who are totally blind to Christ and His saving grace, why I would be chosen and called to be a child of God?  I’m so blessed beyond measure.

God does work major miracles in situations that seem hopeless.  My mom may have looked at me when I was a rebellious teen, threw her hands up in the air,  and did the only thing she knew she could do…….get on her knees and pray for my soul.   I was the last person anyone thought Christ could get through to.  I had a heart of stone and a disdain for the Gospel.   Thankfully God doesn’t need anyone to be ripe for the picking to just reach out and pick us.    He can breathe life into a dead, hard heart instantly and bring us to Him, fill us with love, joy, and hope to give us a purpose.

I’m so thankful for the calling Christ has on my life.  I’m still not entirely sure what it will mean for the Kingdom, but I have an idea that my life is meant to speak to the broken, the hard-hearted one that has lost all hope.  I can look into that heart, seeing myself, my journey, and my brokenness, and see just how God can mend a heart that’s shattered and torn up.   I can see how someone with a disdain for Christ can be won over with one nudge from the Holy Spirit, I’m a living example of Christ’s heart for His children to be whole, to be healed, and to have hope.

Spring is upon us and with it comes new life, after a time of harsh coldness and death.  I love spring now more than ever.  It’s come to signify so much more to me in my middle age then it did in my teens or even young adulthood.  The winters I’ve weathered have always been followed by the hope of spring and the new life it brings.    The thaw of spring is like the hardened heart that has no hope of softening, but when touched by the warmth of Christ’s love and sacrifice, melts instantly and springs to life.

God’s hand is on the hearts of those He calls His own, and we all can have seasons when our hearts are hard, or broken, dried up or sopping wet from grief…….His mercies are new every morning and a season of hope is there.  Trusting in His Word, His promises and the claim He has on our life, during those seasons, will spring up hope and joy in even the harshest of environments.  Hope is alive in Christ, It’s alive in me and I know it’s there for anyone who believes in Jesus.

God still is the God of miracles; my life and testimony are filled with God’s supernatural power working in and through me and my family.  It can often seem that in times where there’s no way around, under, over, or through something that God comes and parts the sea to help us make the journey through.

I’ve come to understand that the way through may not always be a neat and tidy conclusion, most likely it’s just the beginning of hard, consistent and intentional work….but rest assured Christ is with you to guide you through the hurts, confusions, the anger, the sadness,  whatever it is you’re facing.

I’ve heard this saying before and I really like it.  “If God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it. “

We can feel alone in the fight with no person around to lean on, But GOD is there and we are made stronger in those moments we are weakest.  He’s there and with us ready to work in and through us.

I have a verse that’s helped me through the hardest days I faced as a grown woman.  A time when I had to lean fully on Christ and His healing balm, just to make it through days that were hopeless and bleak.   The verse sparked hope in me whenever I’d read it.  That hope grew to increase my faith that no matter what outcome, I’d be taken care of by God

Isaiah 43 :19 in the ESV bible reads like this “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

The message bible reads like this.  “Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”

God makes a way, when there isn’t even a road……He’s making it for us to pass through.  We can’t stay where we are, just because the road is hard and filled with struggle and get to see the New thing God has for us….we have to move out of that place toward Him.

If He brings us to it….HE WILL bring us through it.  <3

 

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9 thoughts on “Roads in the Wilderness

  1. I really appreciated reading this…thank you
    I am going to be sharing my testimony in April at one of the ladies bible study groups I attend. It has been both convicting and encouraging as the Lord has been putting thoughts on my mind I should share. I truly want Him to be glorified.

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