Encouragement

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Every now and then, God places a word in my spirit to share with a particular
group of people. I pray thee: hear ye the Word of the Lord.

I don't know about how the weather has been in your neck of the woods. But
here in the Midwest, it's been crazy! One day, you think you're going to have
a heat stroke. The next day, you're wondering why Jack Frost has decided to
become a frozen thorn in your flesh. It's enough to make you wonder just what
season this really is.

According to meteorologists, spring has sprung. So, technically, it's time
for everything to be in full bloom. It is officially the season for winter
depression to lay itself down to rest. But the weather is still singing a
dismal song to the sky.

How often do we as Christians allow external circumstances to determine our
destiny? Truly, if God has declared that the season is springtime in your
life, then the results of His Words must be manifested. Often, we are so busy
focusing on what's NOT happening that we lose sight of the everyday miracles
that are right under our noses. If only we would just take the time to stop
and watch the roses bloom, we could fully enjoy the miracle of being able to
smell them.

Introspection is good for the soul. And I do believe that God desires for us
to do a thorough soul search so that we can see exactly where our faith lies -
in Him or in the IDEA of Him performing for our benefit. My soul has been on
this quest to discover the Heart of God and how to retain a right spirit.
God has shown me that He is more than able to take what the enemy used
against me and make it bear fruit for His Name's sake.

I had no intentions of coming back to this particular region of the Midwest for any considerable amount of time. In a twisted psychological kind of way, I had associated the state with the emotional pain that I endured at the hands of my family members. I remembered the day when I was told that the 18 years it
took to raise me were a waste of time. I remember the day that I boarded the
plane to fly here - the same day that I should have returned to Virginia for my sophomore year at a very prestigious university. Why would I want to return to the Midwest? I "felt" like I had dealt with issues concerning my family members; however, that didn't thwart the strong desire within me to steer clear of this area.

A few months after graduating from college, God ministered to me about expecting to see some doors open up in the Midwest. My intention was to work for a reputable company in Minneapolis.

How many of you know that the best way to get God to laugh is to tell Him
YOUR plans?

When I arrived here, it was only intended to be for one month at the most. But, I saw the Hand of God close the doorway for the other job and I knew that I had to remain in the place that seemed to epitomize utter anguish and despair.

Soon, I became very discouraged at the lack of opportunities presented to me. I had lost sight of what God told me and I allowed my feelings to override the facts - that God simply cannot lie and that He is faithful.

During that time, I began to seek God on a deeper level about His purpose for bringing me back to my personal wilderness. He spoke these words to my heart:

"I have allowed you to return unto this place for you are as Joseph. You have
endured the rejection and ridicule that was set before you. Just as Joseph
brought forth Ephraim, so then shall you. For behold, I shall cause you to be
fruitful in the land of your affliction." (see Genesis 41:52)

All I can say is that I was amazed at the unfolding of God's plan to me. I
knew that I had endured so much from my family. I also knew that I needed to
share my testimony with others so that they could know the purity of God's Heart toward them, despite what others may do or say. But in the back of my mind, the words of a close relative kept lurking, "I don't know why you are determined to embarrass them [the family members] by telling others what happened. You are so set on trying to make them look bad." Of course, I knew that my purpose would not be to make anyone look bad. Somehow, I knew that the need to tell my testimony should outweigh any opinions that were offered to me. I know that God wants us to be wise when we share our testimonies as well (when and how to share). It was still a struggle for me - until April 1, 2001.

One particular evening, I saw a well known area Pastor in a dream. He was
wearing a black clergyman's tunic and fervently preaching the Word of God. I
remember hearing the Lord say, "You must go and hear My Word through my
servant." God had a powerful and seasonal word to deliver to me
through this man of God and my spirit was in full gear for the experience. I wondered if, by chance, this Pastor's best friend, who is one of the most distinguised male voices in gospel music, would be at the church service.
However, I just cast that thought aside. After all, he had been doing a lot of
touring during that time so I didn't expect to see him.

Guess who was the first person that I saw when we entered the sanctuary? Yep!
It was Mr. "We Fall Down" himself. I just began to laugh hysterically because I
could see how God would use Donnie McClurkin to minister to me. Needless to
say, the Pastor's message was so pertinent to the situation that seemed to loom over my life. The Word was so profound! After the service, I went to speak with Elder McClurkin.

In his phenomenal book, "Eternal Victim, Eternal Victor", he shares about the sexual abuse that he experienced at the hands of an uncle and a few close family friends. He speaks of the drug and alcohol addictions of his parents, who are both now in ministry. I had spoken with him on a few occasions but it was always during high profile times (i.e. concerts, awards, banquets, etc). The church was a setting where he was more prone to be at ease among the people. God had made his manservant accessible to me at just the right time.

I walked up to him and asked, "Minister McClurkin, when you first started
sharing your testimony, how did you deal with the opposition that you
received from those who wronged you?" He just smiled and said, "Well, that
didn't matter. It's about someone else being healed as a result of what I
shared. THEY [my family members] chose their lot in life when they did the
things that they did. They know that it's not about them - it's not personal.
It's about the souls."

I believed that when Minister McClurkin (now known as Pastor Donnie in NY!)
spoke those words of wisdom to me, there was a direct impartation into my spirit.
I know that many people will have mixed opinions about my decision to tell my story. But ultimately, my soul will not find rest if I neglect to do what God has entrusted unto my hands.

I want each of you to be encouraged through this message. God wants us to
walk in the abundance of His Provision. But we have to lift the veil off of
our eyes so that we can clearly see the beautiful season that God has given
us. Discern whether or not this is your time to plant or to reap. Is the
smell of the abundance of rain in your life or is it the whirling sound of a
fierce hailstorm? Are you trying to trudge through issues that have formed an
overwhelming avalanche? Do you try to clear up the pathway of your spirit only
to discover that another set of ordeals are rapidly descending from your autumn
sky? Are you exhausted by the heat of the sweltering sun against your brow?

Well, God knows exactly what season you are in. And you're there ON PURPOSE.
It may be to work some things out of you or to deposit some things in you.
But don't despise your season. See the beauty in the seeds of spring crowning forth out of the fertile earth. Feel the wind of God's Spirit whisk by your face in the brisk autumn twilight. Remember the purifying grace of God as you gaze at the shimmering snow of your winter. Be enraptured in the warmth and depth of His love in the summer evening. Every season has a lesson.

Beloved, purpose in your heart that you will not be content with simply "going through" trials and tribulations. To only endure the tests of life would make us no different than those who aren't governed by the Sovereign God through the power of His Son, Jesus Christ. I challenge you this day to make a decision to "grow through" each obstacle that comes against you in this world. Let us put away childish attitudes and thought patterns. All of creation is groaning to see the manifestation of us as MATURE sons and daughters of the Most High God! Only then will we able to truly say that we are seated in heavenly places. Our affections will be in alignment with our Holy Father, who often beckons us into deeper dimensions of glory through the painstaking winds of change.

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ." - I Thessalonians 5:23

With the Heart of God,

Imani G. Brooks-Wheeler

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