A QUARANTINE BLESSING Part 3
For many of us, this time of a Pandemic feels much like we are wandering in an unknown wilderness. Set adrift by who knows what! Wondering and wandering.
We’ve likely all experienced some form of quarantine by now. But a quarantine doesn’t have to be a bad thing. There are also blessings to be had in a quarantine.
The first time we looked at this concept, was in A Quarantine Blessing Part 1.
In that Truth we explored the WHAT. What is this? What kind of situation have we found ourselves in? What in the world is going on! Many in this current generation have no experience at all with a Pandemic or a quarantine. Some have never even heard of such a thing. In Part 1, we learned that this wilderness like situation we’ve found ourselves in is called a BarMidspar in Hebrew, which means “to speak”. From that we gathered, that in this place we’re going to be spoken to and learn how to speak. Feel free to get a refresher at A QUARANTINE BLESSING Part 1 — Benton T. Thompson III (bentonthompsoniii.com)
In our next Truth, A Quarantine Blessing Part 2, we looked at the supply chain issues that we all are experiencing in this worldwide wilderness. We learned that bread has always been a staple in every society known to mankind throughout history. Despite all the inhibitors we’ve faced with business, travel, school, work, fellowship, entertainment, and others, at least we could still get something to eat. Just like the previous wilderness wanderers, the children of Israel, we too received manna from heaven. In this Truth, we learned the WHO, who is our manna. The Bread of Life, Jesus. He is the only sustainer we have in a situation like this. A QUARANTINE BLESSING Part 2 — Benton T. Thompson III (bentonthompsoniii.com)
In Today’s Truth, A Quarantine Blessing Part 3, we are going to explore the WHERE. I’m certain that God can provide for us anywhere, in any situation, at any time. Why does it have to be here, in this type of situation. Why did he choose this place to be our WHERE? At times, some of us might have felt like the children of Israel, when wondering has God brought us to this place to die! In some ways it could feel like this place, this challenge, this time, this situation, these set of circumstances we’re in, just might, possibly, could be the end of us.
Why this place God? Why did you choose this location, to do what you do. We thought the last situation we were in was bad, but it was nothing like this. Egypt was rough enough, now you bring us here, to this desert. The only survivors in a place like this are the rocks and the scorpions. Do you want me to become hard like the rocks, or hateful like a scorpion, striking out at all those who come into my space. I could very easily transition into becoming either, or both. Why did you bring me to this place without my loved ones, a place where I have no means, a place where I’m sick, scared, and tired, a place that you know full well is very uncomfortable for me.
We heard you when you told us that the wilderness is a place where you will speak to us. We also heard you when you said that in this wilderness place you will supply all our needs in Christ Jesus, the bread from heaven. But we still don’t know why you chose here. This is a place of death and desolation. Only fear can grow and thrive here.
The reason we are in this place is because God thrives in challenging situations. That’s when he does his best work. Nothing is impossible for God! Remember, when the Earth was a dark mass of chaos and confusion. I’m not referring to recent times, but in the beginning of time. The Earth was a wasteland and God made it a paradise. That’s what he does, and that’s who he is.
God promises the most unbelievable results, in the most unlikely of circumstances. Because that is where we can clearly see His Word come to pass. The wilderness is WHERE every promise that he has ever made will be fulfilled.
We’ve experienced times of pain, challenges, and difficulty during this wilderness season. The wilderness can be dire, discouraging, difficult, and draining. God never promised he would take us directly to a blessing. But he did say let patience have her thorough work in us. We must resist the temptation to try and hurry the process. It will only cause us further delays, just as it did for the children of Israel.
God promises that he will make a way when there is no way. Which means for him to keep that promise, we must be in a no way, no win, no way-out situation.
Everyone loves easy and delightful circumstances. That’s evident in the names we give to our children like Sunshine, Joy, Paradise, Eden, Jubilee, and Blessing. No one names their child Struggle, Death, Defeat, Desert, Pain, or Pandemic. But the fact of the matter is, those are the places where we grow the most. Those are the times, when we experience Gods greatest grace, during our lowest moments.
Some have even named their child Destiny, but the blessing of destiny or the destination, is in the journey. The journey is where we grow.
This Pandemic is a journey. The situation you are in right now is a journey. A journey on your way through, to, A Blessing.
Look at what God promised us in the wilderness.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Isaiah 43:19
No one wants to be in the wilderness. We try to avoid it at all costs.
Yet GOD! Yes, Yet GOD! God says in this is the very place I will perform a miracle that no one can doubt that it was I who did it.
This should make us view every roadblock differently. Layoffs are set ups, deaths usher in the new thing, and hardships are what will change us into our higher self.
God said he will do A Brand-New Thing.
Our wilderness is a part of our process. Not only is God going to do a new thing, but he’s going to do it right here. Right in the middle of this dying, barren, hopeless, befuddled, confusing, disease infected, wilderness.
We would all agree this place is not a blessing, and God concurs. That is why he says I will turn this wilderness desolate place into a blessing. Even here, even now!
God did not provide the children of Israel with everything they would need to successfully live out their lives in the wilderness. He gave them only what they needed to get through that time, until they reached their promised land.
That’s why he is creating a road in our wilderness so we can drive out of what we walked into! And a river in the badlands, so that we can sail out and not sink!
Often God’s way is not the direct path like we think it should be. Because Gods way is the way of the journey. Just like with the children of Israel. The journey is WHERE WE LEARN.
To experience more Truths like this one, get your signed copy of BOOK of TRUTHS today. BOOK OF TRUTHS - THOMPSON TRUTHS VOLUME 1 — Benton T. Thompson III (bentonthompsoniii.com)
This is a Thompson Truth
