Author Darlene J Conard

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.2 Peter 3:8 KJV

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.”  Isaiah 40:28   KJV

“Darlene, will you still believe Me when years pass, and the vision terries?”

“Yes.”

“Will you refuse to walk away when things get rough and ragged?”

“Yes, Lord You know that I will.”

“Will you continue on when you are told you will never make it in this world?” Taking deep breaths, I breathed out, “Lord thou knowest all things.”

“That’s not why I’m asking you. I do know. I want a verbal acknowledgment from your lips. For you will enter the test of time concerning certain promises. It will either break or make you.”

I recall the countless times God gave me visions and dreams that I questioned. Some of those took place five years down the road. My attendance at a lady’s conference wasn’t pleasant at all. One morning I experienced release.

Passionately the praise team sang, “Burn in me, let the fire of the holy One burn in me.” The lyrics went on to say, “Let the fire of the holy One burn in me.” God, I need You to come down and hold me. Please meet me! That still small voice wasn’t so small- it was mighty.

 “Give it to Me. Every single piece. Withhold nothing.” Slowly surrendering I unclenched my tight-fisted hands.

The dimly lit room created an atmosphere of expectancy and self-examination. The air was heavy with the weight of the future, as I sat there, feeling after the heart of God in my own special way. His voice resonated with a blend of tenderness compelling me to answer His probing questions.

“Darlene, will you still believe Me when years pass, and the vision terries?” His presence bore into my soul, searching for a steadfast determination.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly. The unwavering faith I possessed echoed in my words, a declaration of my commitment to trust in His timing. He continued, “Will you refuse to walk away when things get rough and ragged? When the storms rage and the waves threaten to engulf your faith?”

“Yes, Lord,” I responded with conviction, my voice growing stronger. “You know that I will stand firm. My faith will not waver in the face of adversity.”

God’s presence penetrated every single part of my soul, as He continued asking, “Will you continue on when you are told you will never make it in this world? When others mock your dreams and belittle you for believing?”

I took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of determination within me. “Lord, thou knowest all things,” I uttered, acknowledging His omniscience.

But He wasn’t satisfied. He wanted more than just an internal acceptance. He sought a verbal confirmation, a spoken commitment that would anchor me in the test of time. For He knew that there would come a day when doubts would creep in, when the promises seemed distant and impossible.

I reminisced about the countless moments where He had unveiled visions and dreams that left me questioning. Some of those revelations were five years down the road, seemingly out of reach. With closed eyes I recalled , a memory of a lady’s conference where my soul had encountered a tumultuous wrestling.

One morning, as the room pulsed with anticipation, the praise team took the stage. Their voices soared, resounding the lyrics with an intensity that penetrated the depths of my being. “Burn in me, let the fire of the holy One burn in me,” they sang, their voices a resounding cry of surrender.

In that moment, I felt a desperate need for God to come down, to hold me close and meet me in the midst of my uncertainty. And then, in the midst of the music, I heard it. His voice, not a mere whisper but a mighty roar.

“Give it to Me. Every single piece. Withhold nothing,” He declared, cutting through the chaos of doubt that clouded my heart.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I slowly unclenched my tightly wound fists, releasing my fears, doubts, and insecurities. Every ounce of my being surrendered to Him, to His plans, and to the promises He had spoken over me.

In that moment, I understood the magnitude of His questions. It wasn’t about Him gaining insights into my heart. Rather, it was an invitation to embrace the test of time, to allow His promises to shape and refine me. It was an invitation to rise above the challenges, to emerge unbroken and stronger than ever before.

And with each breath, I vowed to hold onto my belief, to walk steadfastly through the rough terrain, and to press onward, undeterred by the naysayers. For I knew that in those moments of testing, I would find the depth of my faith, and it would be there that my true strength would be unveiled.

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