A Way Out



When we find ourselves in the wilderness, we yearn for relief. Rather than persevere, we look for a way out.  The harder something is to endure, the more we will want it to be over.  Relief allows us to catch our breath for a moment. The chaos calms down. Uncertainty and the feelings of futility subside. 

We gain back control, or so we think. At best, relief is a temporary fix. We desire a change in our circumstances while God's focus is molding and shaping our character. A quick fix prevents Him from completing a transformative work within us. The power of redemption is that He is redeeming, restoring, and awakening our heart.

A tested character produces a hope by which we become more of ourselves through whatever struggle or disappointment we might be facing.  The foundation of our hope comes from our identity, not a change in our circumstances. The important thing isn't that our situation will be different, but that we will be different. The enemy doesn't want this and does everything in his power to prevent it. 

Shame attempts to undermine our worth, attack our identity, and disconnect us from His grace. 

It tries to convince us that "if we struggle or feel disappointed, we must not be good." The enemy doesn’t just ruin us by tempting us to make bad decisions. He works in more profound and subtle ways. He tells us to trust our strength and our perspective and slowly undermines our trust in God's provision, perspective, and purpose for our lives.

Worship becomes a weapon we yield in the face of disappointment to combat the lies the enemy tells us.  

Christ endured temptation to enter into our struggle. He is working and fighting for us. He intends for the battle to draw us closer to Him. The tendency is to pull away, but we must draw near for this is where we learn to understand our value while encountering His grace. He isn’t just redeeming our circumstances or our situation; He is redeeming us.


  • How can worship serve as a weapon when facing disappointment and struggles?


God, may I trust Your faithfulness while in the wilderness. I desire to take steps that grow my courage and perseverance. Rather than searching for relief from my circumstances, I want to be curious about how You are using them to shape my character and reflect Your heart. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

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