Have you ever known a person and they turn out to be someone they aren’t? You bought into the deception of their lies and the fake they portray. You feel stupid afterward and wonder how you never knew the real that was being displayed before your eyes yet you were blinded by the fake life they lived. I have been there and actually it happened recently. Someone whom I grew to love and care about immensely ended up being someone they were not and I was deceived greatly. When I found out about it, I was first in complete and total shock. Then, I almost felt a sense of grief for what was. I doubted my ability to trust people because after all, they can turn out to be someone they do not portray to be. I dealt with emotions of rage because the lies I bought into were so deeply thought out and the narcissistic ways of this person were without a doubt, sickening.  I asked myself how I could ever forgive this person and the hurt they had caused to so many people who looked up to them and sought their advice. My husband, who was affected as well, questioned his leadership role in our home because we had invested so much of our hearts with this person. Over the next several weeks, I had sought God out in prayer and asked all my questions. I knew I had to let go and allow God to bring forth the consequences for this persons actions and words on His own. It can be difficult to trust that God is actually a better judge than we are because we are all so good at judging and being critical (notice my sarcasm here because we are actually no good at judging others). God brought me on my face to pray for this person. I did not want to pray for them. I was too angry but God was patient with me as I slowly realized that I needed to be obedient. As I began praying for this person, I noticed the rage and explosive anger that was harbored inside me began to be lifted and I felt a calmness. In this calmness I was able to be in a place where I could hear from God and give him the quiet he needed from me to answer my questions. “People in power get too much credit for things I should be getting credit for.” These words from God hit a very personal piece of me. “Do not put mere humans on pedestals because they will always let you down. I will never let you down. Put your trust, your faith, your hope in me alone.” WOW! I knew all of this yet sometimes I forget this truth. We are so quick to put people in positions of power and authority on pedestals and strongly believe the need to hold up our standards of perfection but this is simply not the case. In fact, they have absolutely no real power and authority compared to God Himself. He is in the most powerful position in Heaven and on Earth. How could I possibly think that a human with a sinful nature could possibly not let me down? God is the only one who can completely lead me and guide me through this life without once making a bad choice for me or leading me in the wrong directions. He is not deceitful and will not flood me with lies because His ways are truth. Those who are in places of Christian “authority” but distort the very image of Jesus will face His wrath and judgement just like all those who live in sin will. That judgement will be the only judgement that matters when all is said and done. Since this conversation with God I have not stopped praying for this person and all those who will continue to be deceived by the wickedness and pure evil. I will pray that God will restore this person and that the demons helping to control them would be cast out. I pray for healing of all the people who have been affected and hurt. I pray their hearts would be protected from all the lies and their eyes would be opened to the truth. God sees it all because what can be hidden from man will never be able to be hidden by God. It is a grieving process when someone is deceived by somebody they care about but leaning on God has been the best way for me to face this and heal through this. God is our greatest comforter in every situation we face in life. Lean on him, grieve for the deception, forgive, get up and then keep loving people. Do this and be careful to not place mere human on pedestals with expectations only God can reach.

Brianna

Several times in my life, God allowed me to wait in the desert. Some may ask, “Why would God make someone go through something like that?”. I believe there is a different reason for everyone as to why God makes them wait through the desert. For me, it was to strengthen my faith and help me to really draw near to Jesus. I also believe that everyone experiences different time frames of how long they have to wait. For me, it was just over four years. In those four years, I prayed and prayed and my faith was tested. I felt hopeless and ashamed for what my life had become. I experienced some of the most horrific hurt and betrayal of my entire life within those four years and I felt like God had forgotten me. Then, one day it happened. God came through and all those years of praying had all become worth it. I was watching God work right before my eyes and even though I knew He was capable of doing everything I was seeing, I still stood in shock and could not believe that he remembered little me. I thought he had left me but I was wrong. Instead, he needed me to give up the control and give Him the room to be God. I had realized that the waiting taught me so much about God and who He is and how His timing is better than my own. His ways are so much better than mine. He restored and redeemed in such a powerful way. Better than anything I could have dreamed up or imagined. He fulfilled every single promise He had made to me. I experienced love like I had never known and learned that good things really do come to those who wait. I am not sure what desert you are waiting in right now or how long you have been there waiting. I do want to encourage you that God has not forgotten you and he desires to be close with you even through the trials in life. Take your brokenness, hurt, shame and guilt to the feet of Jesus and allow him to comfort and hold you through the test. Cling to the truth that God loves you and His ways are better than your own. His timing is better than your own. God can take that very brokenness and put each and every piece back together. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus as you wait and know you are not alone but He is working and moving each moment you wait and He sees you. I want to encourage you today to take a look at the desert you are in and ask yourself what God may be trying to teach you as you wait. Talk with him and share with him your heart and your desires. Do not be afraid to come to him with your frustration and fears because God loves you and he understands every emotion you are feeling. He loves you even when he calls you to wait in the desert.

“Those who wait on the Lord shall find renewed strength. They will mount up like the wings of eagles, run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage.” Psalm 27:14

“Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulations and steadfast in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton