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Written by Sadia Morales, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Mexico
Has your life been full of confusion? Have you come to feel so confused that you have had to run to your room or someplace where you could be alone? In that place, have you felt as if you were sitting under a juniper tree where you just wanted to die; where you cry so much that you fall asleep tired, exhausted, afraid, with many lies rolling around in your head and in your heart?
On one of those days, I received a message that filled my life with confusion—a confusion that caused me to flee into the darkness of the night where only lies, fear, and tears accompanied me.
A great confusion seized me... just like Elijah in that desert. Do you know the story? He was confused even though he had come from many victories, victories in which he showed the power of God. Elijah came to feel this way in 1 Kings chapter 18.
Many of us, despite many victories won, arrive in the desert on day one of our journey through a time of confusion and sit down under the juniper tree just wishing to die (1 Kings 19:4-18). We eventually fall asleep, and while we rest, God works. But many times, instead of resting and letting God work, we do the opposite. Many times, we work without stopping so we do not allow ourselves to feel. But really, we must stop to rest (Ps. 46:10).
It is in those moments when God Himself will send angels to pick you up and tell you, “Eat.” It can be your husband, your children, your family, your friends, your acquaintances, or God Himself giving you the strength to get up and eat and drink so that you are able to go back to bed for the rest needed to continue your journey. And again, the angel will touch you saying, “Get up and eat, woman, because a long road awaits you.”
That physical food, as well as spiritual, will strengthen us to take the road to Horeb, the mountain of God. It took Elijah 40 days and 40 nights to get there. And you? How long have you been in this fight where lies overwhelm you, where you feel persecuted, where you fear for your life, and you continue to hide in a cave of fear or shame because a tragedy or some message or news brought confusion to your life and you don’t know how to get out or what to do?
You may have been in the cave for a long time, but today, Jehovah your God says to you, “Daughter, what are you doing in here?” Go outside and stand on the mountain before Jehovah, for Jehovah your God always passes by; He has always been there. Just go out to see Him. But first sharpen your physical and spiritual senses, because a great and powerful wind will blow through the mountains and break the rocks. And just as it was for Elijah, Jehovah will not be in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake will pass, but Jehovah will not be in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, a fire will pass, but Jehovah will not be in the fire.
Life itself is full of confusion. It may tear us, break us.
Perhaps our problems make us feel that we are at the center of an earthquake, or in the midst of a troubling situation we feel a suffocating fire that does not let us breathe. It seems like that fire will consume us. But today I tell you, He is a God of peace. He will arrive! Of course, He will come, just as He came to Elijah in a gentle and delicate wind. Elijah heard it, covered his face, and went to the door of the cave. Then a voice came to him whispering, “What are you doing here, _____?” (add your name).
Jehovah tells you, “Go my daughter. Go back to your path— you still have a lot to do.” “Keep all the things I have commanded you. I will be with you every day, until the end of the world." Amen (Matt. 28:20).
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Written by Rianna Elmshaeuser, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado
Years ago, a friend of mine was in trouble. She was in mental anguish and deep emotional pain. One particular night in a text conversation, she was using words and phrases that were quite alarming. I stopped to pray for her, “Lord, I know it takes a whole lot of guardian angels to keep me alive every day, but if you will send some over to my friend to strengthen her right now, I will stay home and try not to do anything too stupid for a while.”
I never mentioned this prayer to my friend. Several weeks later, I overheard her talking about that night and she said, “I just felt like extra angels were surrounding me in that moment.” My prayer may not have been the most flowery or impressive, but the Holy Spirit knew what I meant and helped me communicate to God what was needed.
More recently, I found myself in a situation where I needed wisdom and didn’t have time to go to the scriptures for guidance. A young person under my care had disregarded my instructions and her behavior was putting her physical safety at risk. I had to go on a search for her and when I eventually found her, I was fuming mad. Speaking to her immediately would have resulted in humiliating her publicly, so I decided to wait for a more private setting.
As I waited for the event to end and for everyone else to leave, I prayed to God for wisdom. By the time I was able to speak to her, God had answered my call and my planned speech had completely changed from one of anger and admonishment to a much more needed conversation of self-care and self-worth. I know that had the Holy Spirit not been there to guide me, things would have turned out very differently and probably much worse. With God’s help, we both left the conversation feeling encouraged, closer to God, and closer to each other.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Rom. 8:26-27 ESV)
We are also promised wisdom through the Holy Spirit. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
In Matthew 10:19-20, Jesus is saying to His disciples,
When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
There are many other times when the Spirit has helped me remain calm in a tense situation, comforted me when I felt lonely and alone, or prompted me to reach out to a stranger or friend in need. Jesus was right (as usual) when He said One greater than He was coming to help us.
I have often thought how wonderful it would be to have Jesus here in person. Wouldn’t it be amazing to sit at His feet and listen to Him teach? What a blessing it would be to ask Him what to do in a particular situation. Who should I vote for? What should I say to repair this relationship? Am I doing a good job?
In John 14, verses 15-19, Jesus promises not to leave us as orphans but that the Spirit of Truth, a Helper, will come to us and live with us and in us. In John 16:7, Jesus says, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” He also proclaims to His disciples in John 14:12, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the spiritual gifts of healing, prophecy, speaking in and interpreting tongues, and miracles. But at the end of the chapter in verse 31 he says, “And I will show you a still more excellent way.” Immediately following is “The Love Chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13. Healing people and prophesying would be amazing “powers” to have, but Paul says even more excellent than being able to perform miracles is love. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and helps us to love each other as Christ loved us. Through love and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can perform “greater works” than Jesus did while on earth. Are you in tune with the Holy Spirit living in you? Do you believe what Jesus said?