by Robert Hotchkin

rob@xpmedia.com

Have you been crying out for MORE of God? And yet does it sometimes feel like the more you cry out, the further away He seems to be? If so, be excited. Be really, really, excited. Because that simply means the Lord is up to something big!

Recently the Lord spoke to me out of John 16, how at times when it “looks” like He is away, He is actually at work behind the scenes bringing about something bigger and more amazing than we could possibly comprehend, and yet it is exactly what we have been longing for.

We have stepped into Isaiah 60. Darkness is increasing in the earth, but God is not thrown by this. He has a plan, and you are a part of it! That’s why He has been stirring your spirit to cry out so deeply for the MORE you know that there is. If it has sometimes felt like He was far away, or it seemed as if He was not there, remember that He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. There are simply times when He goes about answering our prayers, and bringing about His purposes, in ways that we are not quite yet ready to comprehend. But soon, He will bring us to a place of revelation and help us catch up to what He has been doing the whole time. In that moment we will be empowered to walk the earth in the fullness of the presence and power that He made available to us at the cross, and through the gift of His Holy Spirit! Don’t despair. Don’t get impatient. Don’t try to make your own way. Trust in the Lord. Wait upon Him. And get ready to be amazed!

God is about to do something in the earth that will astound us all, something that if He told us we would not even believe (Habakkuk 1:5). It is something that the eye has not yet seen, the ear has not yet heard, nor has it even entered into our imaginations (1 Corinthians 2:9). But our spirits sense something is coming. Our spirits know that He is about to do something truly awesome, and He is at work deep within us, helping our souls and bodies to catch up with what our spirits already know. That’s why He is working so deeply “behind the scenes” right now, preparing us all for things we are not quite yet ready to bear. He’s preparing us for our next level. Soon, He will bust out in ways we have never seen before. According to Exodus 34:10, His plan is to do it through YOU!

Things Are About to Change!

In John 14–17 Jesus is in the Upper Room with His disciples, giving them a last-minute crash course in all that they have been building up to for the past three years. He is doing everything He can to prepare them for what is about to come, and the significant role they will play in it. In John 16:16 the Lord lets them know that they are about to enter a season where they will not see Him. But He also promises that it will only be a short time, and then they will see Him again. Jesus is trying to let them know that things are about to change. That what they have been experiencing with Him, and what they have come to know and be comfortable with, is about to disappear on them. But that it is okay. That it is all unto something. That it is all a part of bringing about everything they have been believing for over the past three years – the Kingdom coming and once again being established in the earth!

"Where Are You?! What is Going On?!"

The disciples miss the big picture of what Jesus is sharing, and begin to just flat freak out. “What do you mean, we won’t see you?” they ask. “What do you mean, in a little while we will see you again?” they wonder. “What are you talking about when you say, ‘I am going to the Father’?” They are full of questions. Can you relate? I can!

So often when we enter a season when things change with the Lord, when He no longer shows up the way we’re used to, we go to that panicky what-why-when-how place, and we begin to ask questions like “WHERE ARE YOU?!” and “WHAT IS GOING ON?!”

Strettccchhhh!

Jesus knows how hard these seasons are for us. Just like He knew how hard it was going to be for the disciples. He even told them that it would cause them to weep and mourn. But He also told them that there was a reason for it. He likened the time when He would “disappear” and they would be confused to when a woman goes into labor. It is the same for us. These times are hard. They are difficult. They stretch us and cause us pain. But they bring forth something truly wondrous and amazing! Grief turns to joy. Sorrow becomes rejoicing. And what is brought forth in that time, what is birthed from that season, is something that cannot be taken from us. It is ours forevermore (John 16:21–22).

When You Have Done All You Can Do to Stand … Stand Some More!

In John 16:16–22 Jesus is giving the disciples the key to stepping into everything they have been believing for for years. Endure.

There are seasons in our life when it feels like the Lord has disappeared on us. He hasn’t. There are times when it feels like the Lord has abandoned us. He hasn’t. There are periods when it feels like everything we have been believing for and working towards with Him has all-of-a-sudden vanished. It hasn’t. We are simply in the final stages of birthing.

During the time Jesus “disappeared” on the disciples, He was headed to the cross and into the grave to defeat hell and death. He was busy working behind the scenes in a way that was well beyond the disciples’ ability to understand (see John 16:12), so that He could bring about all that they had been believing for. They were in the final stages of birthing “Immanuel” into the earth, and they had no idea. They just thought they were lost, discouraged, and confused. But they endured. Not always well. They made mistakes along the way. But they endured. And they saw everything they had been believing for come forth because of Him – because of what He had been doing that they couldn’t see and couldn’t understand. Oh, praise You, God, that Your ways are so much higher than our ways!

Get Ready to Be Amazed!

If you have been feeling like God has disappeared on you – if you have been wondering where He has gone and what the heck is going on – be encouraged! You are in the final stages of birthing. You are in the final stages of allowing God to do through you something the world has not yet seen. Just like He did through the disciples 2000 years ago. He simply needs someone who is willing to believe. And endure. If that is you, get ready to be amazed!!

Scripture Meditations:

John 16:12–22

Luke 24:13–24

Habakkuk 1:5; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Exodus 34:10

Isaiah 60:1–3

Helpful Resources:

 Trusting God -- CD Teaching by Robert Hotchkin

We will face challenges.  God promises us that.  But He also promises that He is good and that He will never leave us or forsake us.  As we lean into His goodness and trustworthiness, even during times when it seems like He is far away, God will bring us into glorious depths of blessing, intimacy, revelation and rejoicing beyond anything we have ever imagined!  As you listen to this insightful message, the way you look at challenging times of confusion or doubt will be forever changed.  You will come to understand the purpose of “dry” times, how to move past fear and doubt, how completely reliable and trustworthy God is, and more!

Be Strengthened -- CD Teaching by Robert Hotchkin           

The Lord has an amazing destiny for you – one full of hope, blessing and purpose.  The enemy wants to steal that from you through discouragement, frustration, and intimidation.  But God is greater, and He is well able to strengthen you and bring you into victory in every area of your life!  This powerful message from Rob Hotchkin helps you understand why the enemy threatens and intimidates, how to be strengthened in the Lord, and how you can come into all God has for you.  Get ready for victory!  Get ready to be empowered!  Get ready to BE STRENGTHENED!

Resting in God-- CD Teaching by Rob Hotchkin

Do you long for a greater revelation of Jesus?  Is your heart’s cry to go deeper in relationship with God?  In this message, Rob Hotchkin shares how it is God’s great desire to draw you into a bigger knowing of who He is and how He is in every area of your life and all the situations you face … and one of the most surprising ways He does this.  If you have ever wondered why God allows us to face challenges and circumstances beyond our understanding, this message will bring you peace and help launch you into a new place of security in God where nothing hell sends against you will cause you fear or anxiety ever again!

Never, Never, Never Give Up! – CD Teaching Set by Patricia King and James Goll

The promises of God are yes and amen. They are sure things. But along the way, the enemy will try to weigh you down with resistance, delays and frustrations to get you to give up and turn away. Yet, if you simply hang on and endure, if you simply lock in to what God has for you and allow Him to strengthen you for the journey, you will see the fullness of God explode into your life and all of His promises blossom into a bouquet of blessings for you.  As you listen to these messages you will receive great grace to run your race. God never fails. Plug into His faithfulness, and decide right now that you will never, never, never give up until you see the victory!