Sometimes when we think we are "waiting on the Lord"; He is actually waiting for us...

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May 3, 2012

But the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. -- 1Samuel 22: 5 (NIV)

Sometimes we can be too passive as Christians. This seems especially true when we find ourselves in times of trouble or uncertainty. It is then that we hear the often used lament, "I'm just waiting on the Lord" or "the Lord hasn't told me to move." Today's deep theology is this -- God will not be text messaging you the next steps you need to take to change your circumstances. He has provided us with His Word so that we will know what to do in every situation. Yes, sometimes we do need to wait on the Lord, but we need to be very cautious that we do not overuse that as an excuse to do nothing about a situation that clearly God would not have us be in.

Our key verse contains three aspects of this line of thinking to consider today. This is taken from a period of time where David is running for his life from King Saul who is bent on destroying him. Likewise we can find ourselves in times when it seems like the enemy is simply oppressing us harder and we find ourselves in the dark valley for what seems like an eternity. It is in that valley that these inaccurate lines of thinking develop. We can think God has left us. We can think that God must want us to sit down in the valley as opposed to walk through it. We can think that "all we can do is pray." Christianity is sometimes an action verb beloved. A great deal of these times that we are waiting for God to move -- He is waiting for us to move. But we instead sit down and rest when we should be marching forward. There is no rest in the land of the enemy. As these lines of false thinking emerge we have a name for them -- strongholds. The first instruction we see then from the key verse is God telling us -- "Come out of the stronghold!" Do not stay in it. Do not ruminate in it. Paul teaches us the interconnectedness of strongholds and how we think:

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.   -- 2Corinthians 10: 4-5 (NIV)

Strongholds are lines of thought that we have failed to make obedient to Christ. They act as a slow poison in our minds and hearts. I realize that these lessons are easier taught than caught as my Pastor likes to say but God does not leave us clueless about how to get up and start to come out of the stronghold we find ourselves in. From the key verse we see the next instruction is to "go into the land of Judah. This has two meanings for us today. First of all -- Judah means "praise." If we want to start to walk out of the valley it must always start with praising God. If we want to start demolishing the strongholds and come out of them, it must always start with praising God. Why? Because praising God is one of the weapons He has given us. It conquers fear and oppression. It conquers depression and anxiety. It reminds us who it is that we serve. It reminds us what He has already done for us. It will take the focus off of the problem and place upon the problem solver. That is how you start to walk out of the strongholds in your life.

Secondly however, David was from the Tribe of Judah. God was instructing him to go back to the people he knew and could trust. While we always rely upon God first, He recognizes that we live in a real world with real people. If we find ourselves in times of uncertainty and we are looking to leave the valley -- go back to the people you know you can trust. Go back to your tribe. Do not sit down in the valley and wait for God to direct you -- He already has!

The last lesson here is the end of passivity. David left and went to the forest of Hereth, which means; "cut in to." God is not satisfied with our just escaping the valley. He wants us to be more than conquerors as the Bible teaches us. He wants us to cut into our strongholds and demolish them. He wants us on the offensive. Too many Christians are on the run. They bewail, "Oh the devil got me running, the devil got me running"" STOP RUNNING. In the very next chapter after the key verse we see David attack the Philistines from the forest of Hereth. If we as Christians are constantly fighting a defensive battle then no territory is ever gained for the Kingdom! It is like the unhealthy infatuation the church has with revival. If we would ever stop falling away -- we wouldn't need revival!

Wherever this writing finds you today remember that while God wants you to learn and grow stronger in the valley that does not mean He wants you walking around aimlessly in it. If you find yourself in a situation either personally or corporately in your church that you know is not of God beware the ease at which stronghold can develop in your thinking. We have a part to play in our own lives beloved. Do not stay in the stronghold. Start the process of healing by praising God Almighty. Seek out the trusted people from your own tribe. Then walk out of the stronghold and into the forest of Hereth where you can be an offensive force for the Kingdom of God!  

Rev. Anthony

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.