Page 151 - Evidence of Things Unseen

tested for forty days in the wilderness, etc.. As I considered these things I sensed the Spirit
telling me that He wanted us to worship Him in the midst of trials and testing. We were to
have no lack of trials in which to practice this, for from the day we moved in we were beset
with one test after another.
It was a great comfort to me that God should choose to bring me understanding of my
trials. As I read this book by Hannah Hurnard I experienced a deep peace come upon me.
It was as if the Father had come down to wrap His arms around me and to personally assure
me that He is with us. I felt like I was having an intimate conversation with the Father as
I read this book, and I knew He was answering my prayers for understanding to be granted
to me.
In the book Much-Afraid is yearning to get to the destination, which is the mountains
of spices. The Shepherd at times takes her down paths that are leading in the direction of
the mountains, and hope grows in her heart, but then He unexpectedly bids her to follow
a path that seems to lead directly away from her destination. These detours are great tests
for Much-Afraid who wants so desperately to be at the end of the journey. Great crises are
met with time after time as Much-Afraid must once more lay her will on the altar in order
to choose to follow the Shepherd.
I could identify my own times when I have been brought to such crises, and I have
battled with continuing on, or turning back. Time after time I have also been led to build
an altar and lay my will upon it. In the book, as in reality, something of great value is gained
every time she chose to follow the Spirit by taking up the disciple’s cross. At each fresh
surrender there is something more of the sinful nature that is crushed, and a new release
of the life of Christ within us.
I had been very intent upon wanting to arrive at the destination, and to know the
fulfillment of God’s promises for my life and that of my family. Yet there is tremendous
value in the journey, for the journey fits us to be able to receive the anointing and calling
God has for our lives. As we travel through wilderness places, knowing many tests, our old
Adamic nature is subdued and the life of Christ is brought forth to ever increasing
expression. In the wilderness we leave behind all those things that have hindered us, and
we come forth leaning upon Christ Who has become everything to the saint.
When Yahweh has tried us thoroughly, He will bring us up out of the wilderness and
into the promises set before us. The Scriptures say that it is by “faith and patience” that we
inherit the promises, and we are told that we have need of endurance. I believe there is a
place of rest to be attained in our wilderness experiences. This rest replaces the restlessness
we have known where we feel driven to be at the end of all trials and testing. There is a place
where we simply become content to wait upon God patiently, and to endure with joy. When
we attain to this place, then the Shepherd is able to bring us up out of the wilderness and
into the glorious realms that lie ahead.
As I reflected on this book by Hannah Hurnard, and what the Spirit was speaking to
me through it, a peace began to grow in my heart. Our present situation looked so very
similar to those we had known in Montezuma which were very painful. Yet the promises of
God are very precious, and the apostle Paul declares that the glory to be revealed in us is not
worth comparing to these momentary, light afflictions.

Romans 8:16-19
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer