A Walk in the Wilderness

It was such a beautiful day that Daniela decided to go for a walk. It was sunny and bright. It was just a happy place to be in the Kingdom. She loved to take in The King’s creation as she walked, chatting comfortably with the Spirit as she went.

 

As Daniela continued in her walk, she came to the forest. What should she do? Should she go around or should she go through? As she hesitated, the Spirit responded that she should go through. So Daniela went into the woods. At first she had a fine time looking around and enjoying the coolness and the shade of the forest. The birds were flying about in the trees, always singing, always busy. She spent time talking to the King. She thought about all of the good things that had happened to her and how different her life was now.

 

Then Daniela noticed something. It was much darker in the forest than she had imagined. The brush was very thick and the path was not well marked. Daniela was unsure. Should she keep going? She asked the Spirit, “What should I do?” There was no answer. Now Daniela was really unsure. She had always gotten an answer when she asked a question. Why was there no answer? Daniela stopped. She sat down. Pretty soon she started to feel lost and alone. She just couldn’t feel the intimacy with the Spirit that she had always had and depended upon. What was wrong with her? She must have done something wrong. The more she focused on the whys and the hows of the way she had gotten to that point in her life, the more she despaired. And the more she lost her focus. Daniela became afraid that she had lost her Love. For all of the time she had spent calling and praying to The King, she felt cold and alone because there was no answer back. Yet, instinctively Daniela knew she had to persist. She continued to pray and slowly but surely she knew that she was doing the right thing – even though it didn’t really seem like it. As she turned it over in her head, Daniela came to a realization. “All I know is that I love You more than life*,” she said out loud. She knew that she would never desert The King even though it looked like right now He was nowhere to be found. Daniela decided to just continue to do all of the things she knew to be true. She brought to mind all of the things that she knew to be true of The King. She gave herself a pep-talk, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,” she declared, “for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”** And even though she didn’t really feel like it, she began to say these things over and over, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”***

 

Then it happened. One day, when Daniela opened her eyes from praying, there was The King! Oh, what a sight for sore eyes! Daniela ran to Him and clung to Him. “Oh King, I’ve gotten myself into such a mess! I called and called and you didn’t answer. I must have done something wrong because you didn’t hear me.” The King looked at Daniela and she soaked in that familiar look of Love. He spoke with such tenderness when He said, “Daniela! I heard every word and felt every feeling you had. You have done nothing wrong, my daughter. You were in the Wilderness. It was my will for you to be there.”  Daniela was shocked. “You wanted me to go through all of that?” The King still had the look of Love. “Of course I did. I wanted to teach you things that you wouldn’t have learned otherwise.” Daniela did not understand. “I was far apart from you. What could I have possibly learned from being separated from You?” she asked.

 

Then the King took Daniela up into the air, far above the forest. “Look down, my child,” said the King. And there was Daniela’s answer. What she saw below was not a forest but a mosaic – different pieces of her experience put together to make the final picture. It was everything that she had experienced while she was in the wilderness. She saw the things that had scared her so much and the times where she felt useless and alone, they were part of the picture as well, but they were not scary or useless at all. They all fit perfectly into the bigger picture. This is the picture of wholeness. It is the picture of completeness. It is what we become while we are wandering in the wilderness. When we are so close to the situation, everything looks fragmented and distorted. However it is when the picture is completed and we have a chance to step back and look at the entire situation, that we gain the greatest perspective.

 

“You see, My Daniela, you were never far apart from Me. It just seemed like that to you. I was always with you but in your loneliness and confusion you learned to trust Me and you learned the depth of your love for Me. Now you know that you will never leave Me. It is for you to learn more about yourself and what you’ll do for Me that you go into the wilderness. You learned to live in strength and perseverance. Don’t despise the times when you go into the wilderness, for they are an important part of your learning to walk with Me.”

 

As children of the King, sometimes we are led into the wilderness but it is not to harm us. It is for our good, our growth and our strength. For it is in the wilderness that we learn our greatest lessons.

 

* From the song, More Than Life, Hillsong

**Psalm 43:5

***Psalm 62:1-2

 

Copyright 2009. Stories of The King. All rights reserved. All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners.

Comments

[Polly Boyette]

Very nice story. I go to Wave Church and I'm very familiar with Hillsong's music. I got an e-mail from your husband saying you guys were in Starbucks yesterday while I was being interviewed. It's so funny how God works things out. I wish you well in your writing. I like the idea of "adult bedtime stories." Best of luck with your writing and stories. It's a great way to spread the gospel.

[Connie Wyatt]

I've read this several times now, and it speaks to me EVERY time! Anne, thank you for all that you do for His kingdom!

[hellen nakyajja]

this is such an amazing story.i have been and still in the wilderness.i felt all alone but thanks to this story because i have now got the answer to all this pain.i have learnt i am not stretching this far alone and God is up to something.I pray that idont give up till tne end.

[Admin]

Thank you so much, Hellen! I understand how you feel. I was there too for a while. I don't think you will give up. Why? Because GOD will never give you up. You don't have to hold onto Him. HE has ahold of YOU! God has you in His hand. He will never leave you or forsake you.

I'd also like to invite you to my Facebook page. I believe it will help you feel more connected to other Christians and to HIM: http:www.facebook.com/thewatchmanscall

~Anne