How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. Psalm 78:40-41 (NKJV)
Have you ever heard the term “wilderness experience”? It’s a common expression among christians, but not biblically accurate.
When people talk about a wilderness experience, they’re describing
a time when God, in their mind, has allowed something painful to happen to someone to teach them something. The term stems from the time the Israelites wandered in the wilderness on the edge of the Promised Land for forty years.
Many assume that God caused the Israelites to wander in the desert to teach them something, but scripture doesn’t say that. In Psalm 78:40-41
(NKJV) it says that they provoked, grieved, tempted and limited God. It doesn’t say that God limited them. They limited God!
So, if you’re feeling stuck and somebody has told you you’re having a
wilderness experience, you need to know that God isn’t doing this to you. God has not imposed any limits on you. He hasn’t placed a ceiling on your marriage, your finances or your friendships. God has nothing but blessings in mind for you!
If you’re feeling limited, realize that your future is bright. God has great things in mind for you, and you don’t have to stay stuck where you are. You can rise up and move on by renewing your mind to who you are in Christ and what you’ve been promised.
It’s so empowering to realize that you’re not being held back by something or someone outside of yourself. No one has the power to limit you!