It's easy to praise God and to serve Him when we're well compensated. But when trials become overwhelming, most people find it easier to abandon ship than continuing to praise God in the storm. Looking at the life of John the Baptist, we see what power there is when we tap into Jesus to be able to witness even when you're stuck in the wilderness.
Yesterday, us men leaders of our local church met for our monthly leader's discipleship group. One of my work colleagues pointed out this interesting thought about John the Baptist that I had never realised before. In Matthew 3:1, this was said about John the Baptist: "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea." It's interesting that even when God drove the man to the wilderness, He was still preaching and witnessing about the coming of Christ.
When you are found stuck in your wilderness - maybe your job is getting tougher, your ministry isn't growing, or your family is struggling to make ends meet - what do you usually do to the call of God? Do you shelve it or do you pursue it all the more?
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NLT version) has this to say: "Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life."
When hard times strike, realise that God has allowed that struggle to come to you, not to punish and hurt you necessarily, but to make you better. I say this all the time - true faith is birthed in the furnace not in the foyer.
When we're stuck in the wilderness, God calls us still to be a witness of His goodness - to speak of His faithfulness because even when we are in the wilderness, He is still faithful. Often when trials come, we start forgetting all the other wonderful things that God does for us despite the hardships. Your job may be hard, but at least you still have a job. Your ministry might be stunted, but thank God that it's still alive. Your family might be hard up, but aren't you thankful that God has blessed you with each other?
1 Peter 4:16 says, "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."
Interestingly, your witness is most validated by your struggle. Without struggle there can be no testing of faith, but when your faith is tested and it passes the test, that's when we start becoming witnesses.
Your setbacks are God's way of setting you up for a comeback that will shock the crowds and glorify God. In the meantime, God calls us to cry out to Him in the wilderness just as John the Baptist did eagerly in faith that the Messiah was at hand. Jesus is within your reach and it will only be a matter of time until He comes through for you.
