Have you ever found yourself in such a harsh and dry wilderness that even your own friends avoid you? Have you accomplished impressive things or been used by God at points in life only to end up in a pit at others?
We know that God is a Loving Father, and we’re thankful for it. However, it can sometimes be confusing when it seems like He’s not there with us or when we’ve followed His lead, only to find ourselves feeling all alone in the wilderness, surrounded by enemies.
David understands that feeling all to well. A quick stroll through the Psalms can reveal some of the most heart wrenching poetry ever penned. Much of it can even be summed up in two words, “Why, God?”
Much like David, many today have been called into doing great things. In his own words, David labels his life experiences as “a wonder to many”. When you have this kind of calling, your life will look different than those around you. Where some are instantly delivered out of their afflictions, addictions, or shortcomings and went on to lead happy lives, the ‘wonders’ out there will often times have to face down many of their challenges for years. Deliverance can often be a long and painful process.
Many of the ‘wonders’ can recall seasons in their lives where they’ve had great victories. Oftentimes, they had the praise and attention of many people. David’s first major experience like this was when he slew the giant. Not only did he have the honour and respect of the entire nation, but even the king himself welcomed David into the family, giving him his own daughter as a wife. Things looked pretty good for David that day!
Yet, even though everything looked like it was on track and everyone knew that he was “God’s man”, the season quickly changed into something entirely different. It must have been especially frustrating because David knew that he had remained faithful to God. I can only imagine how he must have wondered over and over what he’d done wrong. What a painful and agonizing time it had to have been.
Today, there is an over-abundance of deceitful teachers who are quick to tell you that fame and fortune are the evidence of God’s favour. Many go so far as to say that if you’re not rolling in money and living “the blessed life”, then you obviously don’t have enough faith or that you’re in unbelief. They say this in order to convince you that their wealth is the result of their special position with God. They claim it is God’s blessing in their lives for their faithfulness, but the truth is, there were these same types of wicked people all throughout the Bible and in every period of history.
In Jesus’s day, the Bible talks of a group like this called the pharisees. When we think pharisees, we think of people with a rigidity for the law, but the Scriptures show what was really at the root, in their hearts. It says that the pharisees enjoyed two things more than they loved God. They loved money and to be honoured by people. Despite the fact that their hearts were all wrong, their lives were filled with both! Yet, although they also claimed that it was God’s blessing for their faithfulness, Jesus called them robbers and white washed tombs, filled with dead men’s bones.
David, whom God called “a man after God’s own heart”, experienced seasons that the teachers today would undoubtedly say meant he had no faith or favour, yet nothing could be farther from the truth. The shocking reality is, it was actually because of David’s faithfulness that God promoted him to the next season. This can be a difficult concept, but please follow me, here. I won’t sugar coat it or lie to you.
God promoted David from a long season of pain into a moment glory. Shortly thereafter, he promoted him again. This time, however, he promoted him from glory into a long season of even greater pain.
As you’ll see as we move forward, this was all just a part of the process of becoming “A Wonder.”
In the Wilderness
This next season of pain lead to David being driven out of the nation. The honour and gifts he had been given were all taken away. In fact, even his wife was given to another man. If that weren’t enough, the very king who once welcomed him in and promoted him now lead military troops on a mission against David. It’s worth noting that this was the same military that only a short while before, David helped to command and fought alongside of. Now, they were hunting for him. What a strange turn of events! Even more bizarrely, in spite of all of the problems that the entire nation was facing, the king decided to focus all of his time on this one mission. He even left the throne to ride with the troops. That mission had only one goal – to kill David.
Now, you probably haven’t been chased through the desert with a crazy king trying to cut off your head, but maybe you’ve experienced similar seasons of honour followed by times of bitter sorrow, loneliness, and loss, Perhaps you know what it is to be pursued by the same people you once called comrades and brothers. The fact is, if you’ve been around long enough, you’ve come to learn that just like the changing of the direction of the wind, all that you have built and even all that you have can crumble around you in a single moment. Maybe you’ve lost your whole world once – maybe many times.
The unexpected value of this lesson, even though it is very painful, is that it teaches us how to be more like Jesus in a way that only direct experience can. Jesus knew how to not be moved in the slightest by the praises or scorn of people. He also wasn’t moved by the presence or absence of financial wealth. His only goal was the do what the Father commanded, whether it hurt or not. Whether in seasons of honour or scorn, His only desire was to be where the Father sent Him.
I’m reminded of the last two public crowds that Jesus encountered before his life was taken.
One day, we see Jesus riding into the city. The people met Him with shouts of praise.
Just days later, however, the same people who shouted “Hosanna!” now shouted, “Kill him!”
Same city, same people. Only days apart.
Like David and Jesus, this is what it means to truly be a Wonder.
What is a “Wonder”?
In Psalm 71, David makes an interesting statement. He says, “I am as a wonder unto many; but you are my strong refuge.”
The word that is used here is the Hebrew Word “k’mopeth” (כְּ֭מוֹפֵת), which means “as a wonder”. What is interesting about this is that the root word “mopeth” can mean wonders as in great miracles and astonishingly good things, and it can also mean astonishing affliction, as only God can do. Over the years, the scholars have actually debated on this. Did David mean that everyone saw him in great tribulation and anguish as afflicted by the Lord, or did he mean the great triumphs and victories?
I believe that the answer is simply, “yes”. Yes to both.
I love what one commentary says on David’s use of the word, mopeth, here. He said that it included the following:
“My low estate and my victories. My skillful escapes from the troubles that tried to kill me and my enduring such uncommon trials. My afflictions and my deliverances”
What a wide range of sweeping highs and terrible low points. And yet, the same God lead him into and through them all. Now we know that David could have avoided some difficulties by making better choices, but God used even his mistakes to help be a guide to many. That really is the difference in being a respected figure and being a wonder.
When God decides to make your life a “Wonder” to many, they will see not only your triumphs but also some seasons of difficulty and affliction. Eventually, however, the whole story of those who stay faithful to the call and remain humble before God shows how God delivered and used their lives mightily.
The truth is, God does not afflict us greatly or put us through trials unless we give ourselves over to Him in trust. In this, we ask to be fashioned into the Image of Christ, no matter what the cost. If we desire to be made great and used greatly, we must go through the fires of affliction to be prepared. This is reflected in the Hebrew word, Qadash, which means to be set apart, or consecrated. The Word often refers to this process as trial by fire. And, although the process looks different for each person, there is one thing in common with all the “wonders” – the fire gets hot!
It’s in the fiercest fires and in the hottest flames that weapons of war are forged.
Clay pots use a kiln, but a pottery kiln is not hot enough to forge a weapon. Instruments of war require a harsher process.
It’s not a small thing to ask to be used greatly, but if you have even a spark of courage or if you hear the still, small voice calling within your spirit, I encourage you to ask Him. When you do, I promise that He will hear it, and if your desire is sincere, He will guide you and provide you with the strength it takes. You do not have to be strong or great in order to ask. You only need to be humble and believe that He can make the impossible a reality in your life.
Be assured, you will come to your breaking point. This will happen over and over again. Then, you’ll move past it, astonished that you’re still alive. You will be given times of rest and help in times of trouble. Through it all, you simply must remain in Trust, and keep that simple desire you had at the start. In other words, even if God seems silent and you question your calling, remember that still small voice that you heard from the start. The Bible says that He never takes back or revokes gifts or callings.
One thing to also bear in mind is that you will inevitably come to a point where you’ve fallen so many times that you’ll understand how little your own strength and value really is. You will see that every victory is from His Mercy, and that the same Mercy covers each misstep and failing along the way. In time, you will also learn that Discipline is Love, and that it works. But, it will take time. Just remember that He Loves you, and look for the progress in who you are becoming.
You may gain the whole world and lose it ten times, but that won’t tell you anything. However, how you react when you gain and lose will tell you everything.
When you begin to see the change in you, that will be the fuel which helps drive you forward when you feel like you can’t go any farther. This is because the real victories in life are in personal transformation, and that transformation is what you are really fighting for. No matter where you may be failing now, if you can look back and see even one thing that has changed, you know that He’s still with you, working behind the scenes. I can promise you this, over time and many trials, you’ll discover just how much all of those things have been working to produce a person you never imagined that you could become who does more than you ever dreamed that you could.
Dare to be Great?
We live in a world in which everyone wants to be great.
It seems that just about everyone, today, is working tirelessly to grow their following, build their “brand”, and become an “influencer”. I speak to you lovingly, but firmly. This is all nonsense. It is a trap that people fall into which leads them into slavery. I could be gentle and explain it with more depth, eloquence, or verbosity, but it would just be too many words for a simple truth. I’ll choose, rather, to give it to you simply, because I believe in your intelligence.
The reality is, Jesus made the path to true greatness very clear.
Whoever wishes to be great, must be your servant; And whoever wants to be ranked first, let him be your slave: Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve others, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:26-28
I have an encouragement and even a challenge for you. Instead of daring to be great, dare more boldy! Dare to be a wonder.
If you do, I can promise you that the love and scorn of the public will oscillate like waves in the sea as God moves in your life, but don’t let this worry you. The world neither loves nor understands Him, so do not expect it to be any different for you when you do and say what the Father is. Instead, base all that you do on the command of Jesus, which is to let your Love be seen and known before all man, regardless of how they treat you, so that they will know and recognize in you the reflection of the One who sent you.
Finally, keep in mind that just like those “wonders” who came before and were faithful to the end, the world will see the whole picture painted by your life. This will include afflictions and redemptions, triumphs and pain, struggles and purpose. All of this flows together like vibrant colours on a sprawling canvas, painting a prophetic image to the hearts and minds of those who see it. In fact, many of the masterful paintings you can find today are hanging in galleries around the world, still being admired and studied by millions of people, even though the painter is long gone. This continues on for centuries for the works done by the masters.
The image painted in the ink of the life of a “wonder” tells the same story that the Great Master Painter has been painting since the dawn of creation. This is the story of the Life, Death, and Resurrection power of His Son, Jesus, and of His Love for you. Those who study one of these works closely enough come to see that the existence of God becomes no longer a question but a certainty. No one looks at a painting in the Louvre and says, “It painted itself.” Even those who don’t appreciate art know simply by its placement and complexity that it is the work of a master.
So do not fear the dark paints or course brushstrokes when they come. As they were in the life of His Son and all who came before you, they are just a part of the picture. Trust the Master to do His Work.
This is the opportunity set forth by the Son of Man, who calls you to follow His path of pain and providence, and whose great invitation leads not only to life for yourself but also for the many who see the whole image in the completed life of the “wonder” who finished well.
The True Seal of Favour
This is the mark and evidence of God’s true Favour in a person’s life. It is not riches, book deals, television shows, or instagram followers, but it can be discovered in the answer to just one question:
How clearly can you see the Son of God’s reflection?
Be encouraged and remember that for every death in Him there is a resurrection through Him; and, the life you receive will be far greater than the life you lost!
“Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
Isaiah 60:3