When the Lord wants to teach us something,

He knows that sometimes the best way…

is to take us right “through” it…

And sometimes the places He takes us into,

the things He takes us “through“…

Are scary places…

“Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”—Psalm 23:4 CSB

“Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.”—Psalm 23:4 AMP

Am I willing to still say “yes” to where He wants to take me? Even when I don’t understand what He’s doing in the moment?

Am I willing to trust HIM… no matter how things seem to be on the surface?

Am I willing to go with Him through the lessons He knows I need to learn?

Am I willing to let Him position me for what He has in store?

Because sometimes within the places He wants to take us through…

We’ll find ourselves right in the midst of the enemy’s scheme… a trap waiting just right there before us—in attempt to take us down, and to take us out.

But our GOD is with us! And He wants to show us how He is faithful to deliver us!

That we may experience His deliverance, and His goodness, and His faithfulness!

“They will fight against you like an attacking army,
    but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze.
They will not conquer you,
    for I am with you to protect and rescue you.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!
²¹ Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men.
    I will rescue you from their cruel hands.”—Jeremiah 15:20-21

You see…

There is SO MUCH to GAIN…

In the times we’re crying out to God…

In the times of uncertainty…

In the pressing through, in the dark, when we cannot see our steps ahead…

In dealing with the persecution or the accusations that comes from the enemy…

In the place of NOT having a peace about something…a decision, an action, a particular response.

Our God is teaching us, and He wants to show us His salvation and His deliverance…

And there is much to GAIN from going through these lessons with our God!

Are we willing to go into the “danger zone” with Him?

Are we willing to let Him do what only He can do with our lives?

It’s all worth it.

Every moment of pain…

Every second of time in the “unknown”…

Every battle “wound” that ends up as a “scar” for a little while…

God will redeem it, and He will use it for —your story—His glory…

And He will do it in a way that is far more beautiful and glorious than we can imagine for ourselves!

For in these times, and in these experiences,

and in these situations…

We get to experience Him in a way like none other!

And sometimes He needs to teach us what it’s like to have peace about a thing—a decision—a “yes” or “no”…and what it is to NOT have His peace about something…

This is a valuable lesson.

We are His sheep, and we can hear His voice!

He’s teaching us how to hear Him for ourselves. ??

And He’s so good to teach us in the most beautiful way.

In a way that we get to experience His salvation…

And He’s teaching us how to cling to Him, how to recognize Him, and He’s teaching us about who we are, in Him.

“For here is what the Lord has spoken to me:
“Because you have delighted in me as my great lover,
I will greatly protect you.
I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face.
¹⁵ I will answer your cry for help every time you pray,
and you will find and feel my presence
even in your time of pressure and trouble.
I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast.
¹⁶ You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you.
For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!” —Psalm 91:14-16 TPT

Thank You, Father. ?

-Heather ?