I was recently listening to the song, “Something Has to Break,” and I thought of all the struggles people are facing. This past year has brought much discouragement for many and even heartache for some. In the midst of pain and turmoil, we long for the hardships to stop and the warfare to cease. In all that has transpired it’s easy to question God’s kindness. And yet, my faith says that God’s goodness never stops – even when things hurt. So, I looked to the Lord for a better perspective and His response startled me.
“You are looking for your circumstances to break. But I’m looking to break something in YOU.”
Selah
Though there is pain and loss, it is not the end. It’s not the final word or the ultimate outcome. We were created to live in and for a realm that is higher than our feelings and frustrations. All that happens now is to bring out the manifestation of Christ within us, the Hope of glory. Until we aim higher than our temporary happiness or ever-changing predictions for the future, we will miss the glory that He intends for us – right now.
His glory is not reserved for those who die and go to heaven. It is not restrained by time. It is a supernatural reality that is resident within every believer – NOW – IF we allow its process of refinement. It is IN the breaking that He says,
“I’m pulling GLORY out of you!”
This is His exhortation and the hope in our trials. In the middle of our pressing, there is an expression of heaven that is being squeezed out of us! It is a tangible manifestation of God’s goodness and overriding power that carries immense weight – here, and now.
Our adversaries may think they’re breaking us, but they are actually being used to accomplish a greater work. Our God is breaking off the things of this world so that a greater realm of existence can come forth. He’s pulling GLORY out of us. And it will far outshine the losses and the setbacks. A surpassing GREATNESS is about to manifest on the earth and it’s the breaking that is opening the door.
And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst. (Zechariah 2:1)
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In my latest YouTube VIDEO, I share some recent dreams about a coming economic crash that will feel like we’re going under – AND YET – at the last second, God saves us and holds us fast. America is not going down! It is not time to give up or surrender to a seven-year tribulation. Victory is ahead and God wants us to apprehend His faith for a victorious future! (Click on the graphic below to view)
I look forward to seeing some of you THIS WEEKEND, October 15-17 at Cornerstone Community Church in Seymour, Indiana! Bobby and I will be speaking for a conference starting Friday night and going through Sunday morning. Registration is free and all sessions are open! CLICK HERE to go their website and register.
5 Responses
Wanda:
I do really believe the Lord Jesus will defend us, restore us to a final outcome of God’s Glory. Evil spirits are making us stronger and more reliant on Holy Spirit and His word.
Revival, blessings, healing, joy may be on order for the nation, world and church, but I need such in my own miserable personal life. For over 30 years the Lord has had me, a lifelong Christian, inexplicably cast into a lion’s den of constant pain, turmoil and despair. I’ll make a long story short, but I see no way out. I’ve been stonewalled at every attempt to find Godly help, both here on earth and above. People, even strangers, have offered cheerleading words and earnest prayers, all to absolutely no avail. My faith is crushed, my discernment non existent, my hope as low as it can possibly go.
Don’t know why I post these things. I don’t know if it’s a cry for help or an admission of final surrender.
Dear C,
you are not left out; I believe that God is asking us to delight in Him above our circumstances, above our comfort. I heard someone speak yesterday that really helped me put everything in better perspective. https://youtu.be/YkJH5WYrpDo
I’m praying for you to find renewed hope and love for your soul.
Megan
When Wanda speaks of pressing and being squeezed out I am reminded of a wine press. The Lord is making new wine. We are his grapes and the only way to get wine out of grapes is to press and squeeze them. The Lord wants the new wine to flow from us. That new wine is the fruit of the new creature and creation that we are a part of now that we have been born from above by the power of Holy Spirit. We also need to be vessels that can contain the new wine of the Kingdom of God. We are to be vessels of the new covenant of God’s grace. The new wine can’t be put in the old wine skins of the first covenant of the law; the law only brought death to us, His grace brings life. The Lord desires this new wine, this new life produced by His grace to flow from us through a faith that works by love (Galatians 5:6). Trials come our way to test our faith (1 Peter 1:7). When they come the Lord wants us to remember that the purpose of the trial is to produce a genuine faith, a faith that cannot be shaken, a faith that is rooted and grounded in His love revealed by the Cross of Jesus. On display at the cross is God’s forgiveness through the blood of His Son. We need to embrace the fact that we are forgiven and that God no longer condemns those who put their faith in Jesus. If you aren’t able to forgive others there’s a good chance that you haven’t truly embraced the fact that God has forgiven you. Believe in His forgiveness! When we truly do believe that He has cast our sin as far as the east is from the west through the New Covenant sealed by the blood of His Son Jesus, we will respond with the godly sorrow that produces repentance and we will be able to forgive even as we have been forgiven. Search your heart and hopefully you will find that you do believe the Lord has forgiven you and that you are truly sorry for your sins and now you are willing to forgive everyone that has sinned, just as The Lord has, especially those who have sinned against you. If we do have a heart of forgiveness it shows that we are new wine skins, full of the wine of God’s grace. The Lord wants that new wine to flow from us. So not only do trials squeeze us like grapes to produce more wine, trials also will squeeze our wine skins so that the new wine can flow from us. May Holy Spirit continue to remind us that we are new wine skins, new creations in Christ Jesus (Gal. 6:15) and that what really matters is our faith (that tells us that God has forgiven us) expressing itself in love and one of the greatest expressions of love is forgiveness.
Thank you