Isolation before elevation!

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 (ESV).
 
You may feel alone or isolated on today.   When we experience periods of isolation, sometimes we feel like we have done something wrong to experience the isolation.  Perhaps we no longer have the same group of friends, clients, or support network.  Many times though, isolation is necessary before elevation.  In fact in today’s Scripture in Isaiah 43:19, it is clear that God turns our wilderness experiences into places of promotion and success! 
 
Anytime God does something powerful in a person’s life, He first isolates them!  Consider the stories of Moses, David, Paul, and even Jesus in the Bible!  Moses was driven to the backside of the desert and isolated before God used him to deliver the people of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:1).  David was shepherding sheep by himself before he was anointed the king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:11).   Paul spent 3 years in the Arabian Desert after being called by God to preach the Good News to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:17).  Jesus of course spent 40 days in the wilderness and was tempted before His miraculous public ministry was launched (Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13).  Even in the modern era, Winston Churchill spent ten years in isolation from his own political party before he was elected as the British Prime Minister at the age of 62.  Notably, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years isolated in prison before being elected the first Black President of South Africa!  It is important for us to maintain a good attitude in our wilderness experiences because they are not meant to kill us, but to bring us into God’s plan, purpose and promises for our lives!  On the other side of our wilderness experiences are places of promotion and promise, just as was the case with the Children of Israel as they were headed to the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:19-21)!
 
Although the wilderness in uncomfortable, often it is necessary before promotion.  It is a place of growth and eliminating things that no longer serve us in terms of propelling us into God’s purpose and destiny for our lives!  Don’t despise periods of isolation in your life; promotion is on the other side!