By Invitation Only

There are definitely times when we all face a situation that tests us to the very point of breaking. I have a very dear friend who, in answer to the call of God, left her hometown and her relatives and moved to a place she knew nothing about. She walked into chaos, not the Promised Land she envisioned.

Was she wrong to follow the Lord's leading? Had she even really heard from the Lord? If she had then why hadn't things gone the way she expected?

At some point, we all face these situations. The enemy loves to stand us on the edge of the mountain, even as he did Christ, and whisper in our ears, "Not what you thought it was going to be, is it?" It brings us low, it causes us stress and it pushes us into isolation. We go into hiding, because we are frustrated, embarrassed and completely confused.

In I Kings 19 we find the prophet Elijah in the very same situation. He's been on the run, trying to escape the threats of Jezebel and Ahab. He's ticked them off pretty good by destroying the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel. He's exhausted, disillusioned and ready to throw in the towel. He is convinced that the end of his life is near and he lays down under a tree to die.

I've been there. I've lived that experience. You have too, or you will at some point. I want to let you know there is a method to what seems to be God's madness. God let Elijah run until he was spent. Then, with the grace that only God can offer, He nursed him back to strength through ministering angels. He wanted to make sure Elijah was ready for the next phase of his ministry.

Once he was ready to go (it took over a month for him to recover...) he proceeded to a desolate place, called Mt. Horeb. The name HOREB, means "dry place". God sent Elijah to a dry, dead place. The interesting thing about this, is that HOREB is another name for Mt. Sinai, the mountain of God's presence! This was the mountain where God met Moses and settled for 40 days while He gave him the Law. I'm sure the residual presence of God was there, for it's recorded in 1 Kings 19.

There was lightning, thunder, earthquakes, and gales. But the presence of God was not found in any of them. Only when Elijah heard the quiet, calming voice of God did he realize His presence was all around him. He was not alone-not through any of the trial he had just faced. God was there.

And God is with you, too in your dry, dead place. You are not isolated, abandoned and left for dead. You are surrounded by a host of angels who are there on orders of The King of Kings! He is with you even at this moment, and I pray that you will feel Him wrap His unmistakable arms around you. He brought you here to be with Him. This is the Mountain of God. You only get here by invitation! Not everyone gets to meet Him in this place, because not everyone is willing to go here.

Before you leave the site today, take time to read the piece I wrote entitled, "Horeb". It's in the margin to your right. I wrote this in September of last year, and finally God has asked me to release it. Be encouraged today.

If I could stress anything to the people of God it is this: God is not out to ruin you. God is your Father. He is the BEST father! He is not like everyone else who has lied, cheated, deceived, used and abused you. He is good. He is ALWAYS good. Even in the tough, dry, I-really-don't-wanna-be-here places, He's with you to get you through and to see to it that you grow up to be just like Him!

If you hurt because of the changes God is bringing into your life, celebrate it! He's treating you like a "dearly loved son" and He won't let up until He's molded you into the man or woman He destined you to be...unless you run and try to hide in a cave somewhere. Even then, He's coming after you! So, Beloved, just surrender. Let Him take you through the trial, because I know from personal experience, you are not going to go through it alone!

Blessings to you all!

Jennifer H. Barnes
UPLIFT! Editor