Sara Whitten: "To Those Who Feel Like Nothing Is Happening"

From the Desks of Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith:

Have you heard a call from the Lord to go deeper, but can't see the next step forward?

Recently, the Lord gave Sara this simple yet powerful word and vision of a pool. For those of you who have been feeling stuck in this season, let this encourage you as she shares:

God gave me an image of a pool. This pool, like many, had a couple of steps leading into the water, each step progressively going deeper. After that, the steps ended, and the pool gradually sloped down and deepened. You have felt a call to "go deeper," but you have not seen any more "steps" appearing in the natural to do so. God says that the way into "deeper" is simply continuing to move forward.

Now that's a good word! Find out more about the guidance and blessings that God has in store for all of us as we continue to go deeper with Him. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

In Christ,

Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith, Co-Editors
Elijah List Publications

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You're Going Deeper

This word is for those of you who feel like you had some momentum as you began stepping into a new season; then, all of a sudden, you felt halted. Now it's like you're in a holding pattern, and things have not been progressing.

God gave me an image of a pool. This pool, like many, had a couple of steps leading into the water, each step progressively going deeper. After that, the steps ended, and the pool gradually sloped down and deepened.

You have felt a call to "go deeper," but you have not seen any more "steps" appearing in the natural to do so. God says that the way into "deeper" is simply continuing to move forward.

Just like my vision of the pool, you've gotten to a point where there are no more steps ahead of you, and you think that because the Lord worked through big steps in the last season, it will look the same in this season. Instead, even though you are continuing to go deeper, it is a gradual "deepening" that is happening as you simply continue to believe, press in and move forward. The spiritual reality is that you not seeing giant steps ahead of you means you're already far enough into the pool that the water is going to gradually deepen as you move forward. To the physical eye, it may seem as if nothing is changing, but that is not the case. (Photo via Piqsels)

Don't Drown Before Your Destination

I was listening to Lisa Bevere's book, Without Rival, where she discussed an interesting fact she learned when training to be a lifeguard: nearly half of all drownings occur within six feet of safety. The reason is because disorientation sets in, and people panic because they feel the edge is out of reach. God says, "Don't drown six feet from your destination."

In a Matthew 14:31 moment, God is reaching out to you: "And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" God is pulling you up above the water to see that you are progressing. He still has your next divine appointment waiting ahead of you. Going deeper doesn't always come in visible increments.

Look for the Signs

In a pool, there are signs posted regarding depth and safety; for example, "NO DIVING 3 FT." Without this sign, three feet can look a lot like five feet, and if you're only around 4'6 (like a child), that can make a big difference in how you move in the water.

God is placing signs before you. He is not only reminding you of the progress you have made to get to this current depth, but He is guiding you in what needs to be done – and not done – in your current "depth."

Don't Be Fooled by the Wave Pool

Some of us have experienced a "wave pool." In the natural, these are large pools with artificial, auto-generated waves. Waves, as they recede, give the appearance of decreasing depth. In reality, the same depth is just being temporarily redistributed.

If you're in a one-step-forward-two-steps-back season, don't be fooled. You have not lost any depth. Look beyond the waves.

Don't Just Float

Recently, as our oldest son went to ride the waves at the coast on his Boogie Board, I had to remind him not to just float. I told him to keep his eyes on our brightly colored tent on a beach so that he wouldn't drift.

Drifting (whether on the road or in the water) becomes our natural tendency when our eyes are not fixed. While keeping our attention fixed on God is more of an exercise of dependence rather than independence, it's still an exercise!

In a pool or ocean, we must actively engage by either treading, planting our feet or holding on to the edge in order to stay in a specific position or location. Likewise, in the spirit, we must seek God on what it looks like to stay actively engaged, whether it's spiritually planting our feet, treading water or holding on to (depending on) Him in our season. It won't be effortless; it will take exercising different spiritual muscles.

Community and Revival Will Flow from You

In several instances (Psalm 107:35, Isaiah 41:18, Isaiah 35:7, Psalm 84:6), we see the "moving out" of the wilderness, or dry place, and the "going forth" into pools of water as an indicator of spiritual blessing and fruitfulness. (Photo via Rawpixel)

The wilderness can be used to describe hard times, but it can also describe quiet, isolated (in a good way) times with the Lord. Either of these may describe your previous season. While alone time with the Lord is always needed (as Jesus modeled), the more important byproduct of our getting "filled up" is becoming a conduit of the Holy Spirit's refreshment in community. For most of us, going to the pool or beach almost always means that we'll be there with other people. God is drawing us out of the wilderness and into refreshment, community and revival.

Deeper places of healing come as we continue deeper into the pool with the Lord. So we don't "float away" (lose the vision to distraction), or "drown" (give up), God is calling us to partner with a healing move (both of hearts and bodies) that He is doing in and through the entire Church body.

The pool of Bethesda (John 5:4) and the pool of Siloam (John 9:7) are famous biblical pools that God chose for restoring both vision and mobility in ways that were miraculous and partnered with the individual's belief and acts of obedience. God is doing the same thing in this day (both spiritually and physically), restoring our vision and mobility through growing our trust and partnering with our steps forward. This is why it's so important to not give up, even if it seems like not much is changing, because this is the time where the Lord is bringing you deeper.

Activation Prayer

Lord, I trust, beyond what I can see; that You are bringing me deeper. I say "yes" to more, and I ask You to give me the signs and instructions for this current depth, so that I may be obedient in partnering with all You want to do in and through me. Reignite in me that hope, and help me to be flexible to progress, even when things look differently than I expected. Thank You that through this You are bringing revival, healing, vision and mobility. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

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Sara Whitten
Arrows of Zion
Email: sara@arrowsofzion.com
Website: www.arrowsofzion.com

Sara Whitten is an author, speaker, equipper, and founder of Arrows of Zion Ministry. She and her husband are pastors for the youth at Impact Christian Fellowship in Kerrville, Texas. Sara is a prophetic writer that has been featured on The Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, Charisma and more. She hosts "Hear God Everyday" on Charisma Podcast Network, a podcast with tools to help amplify the voice of God amidst the noise of everyday life. Sara also co-founded One Spark International, an organization that sponsors Bible-based training and education in unreached and restricted nations in order to see the gospel reach all people groups. She is also an active part of groups that train and invest in professionals wanting to use their business and marketplace skills to transform unreached nations for the Kingdom.

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