Tired of living in the desert? Maybe years have gone by and you have yet to see the fulfillment of what God promised you. Have you asked yourself why? For a few years I felt my ministry just would not advance. I thought that with all of our activities God would bring the fruit. At the end of the year when we would evaluate, we saw that everything stayed the same. This year, I was determined to make changes in my own life and truly trust that God would act, and I began to see a change. It’s amazing that the journey to the Promised Land was only 11 days, but it took the people of Israel 40 years. Why? If even in the middle of the desert God did supernatural things. He provided manna from heaven, water rushed out of the rocks, there was a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, and He gave them the Law of Moses.

The generation of Moses’ time had a few characteristics which will help us answer these questions:

• They still saw themselves as slaves

Even though God had already rescued them, many times they wished to go back to Egypt. These are the people we call old wineskins; they think they know it all, they don’t allow themselves to be shaped by God or their leader. Many people continue to live in “Egypt” or the slavery of sin. Through the blood of Jesus, God freed us from all oppression. It’s time to start living like children of God.

• They didn’t learn to live by faith

In Egypt, they were used to having a routine and “stability”. When God took them out from that land, this meant going out and trusting that God would guide them. Faith is to believe that God has control of the situation. When God brings us out of our comfort zone, that is the place where our faith is tested. They saw God send the 10 plagues to the Egyptians, open the Red Sea, destroy the enemy army, and still doubted God’s power. God shows us His power, but what He is waiting for is a change of heart.

• They complained

In Numbers 13, when Moses sent the men to scout the land, 10 of the 12 spies brought back the following report: “But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are (Numbers 13:31 NIV). This report made the nation murmur against God and Moses, how sad. This was the moment God told Moses that no one from this generation would enter into the Promised land. They would live 40 years in the desert and the new generation would be the one to enter in to possess the land. It hurts God when we speak negatively, when we don’t trust in His promise.

God wants to bring you out of the desert today. The first miracle that needs to happen is for you to believe it with all of your heart.  

• You’re going to see yourself as a child of God

You are an heir of His blessings. Have the conviction that God wants to bless you today. “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:17 NKJV). If you’ve suffered through trials, you will also be glorified with Him.

• Step out to conquer

Maybe you’ve done the same thing, the same way all of your life. It’s a determination you make. But faith is doing things that a lot of the time don’t make sense. God did not take the easy route to get to Canaan, He took them the longest and hardest way. You take these steps when you learn to hear God’s voice.

• Be careful with your words

No matter how hard or even impossible the situation may seem, do not speak negative things. If there are things to improve, you can say it in a positive tone. Don’t criticize if it’s not part of the solution. Don’t discourage your team, disciples, or people in your church. A negative report can cause great conflict in an entire congregation.