By Ariane Williams

Have you ever been in an unfamiliar place?

There are times in life when things seem to be accelerating; there are times when mental, spiritual and even physical blocks are placed in front of those things to make your faith stumble. It may look like a decrease, but the increase is on the other side. It has become an easy tactic to hide when it is really time for us to come from behind and stand. Those false stumbles come to break you down to weakness. Those false stumbles come to paralyze your stand on the truth. There are those that come shopping in your spirit only to try to steal everything around you.

I caught myself looking over my shoulder in fear when the Holy Spirit wanted me to turn my face forward and face the stumbles. Sometimes, it is hard to smile when a frown has claimed a permanent fixture on your face. When your faith is tested, how do you get the answers when you have yet to study the unfamiliar contents that only requires a written response from the deep compartments within your heart? Keep everything covered from the inside out. Even cover the unfamiliar. Pray stronger. Pray harder. Pray bold. Pray to Him who is familiar in the unfamiliar.

For months, I walked past the blemishes on the wall in my hallway. The blemishes bothered me, so I stopped staring at the wall, although I knew it was there. The sight of the blemishes bothered me. To control the air conditioner and heat, I must face that wall. To make sure the fire alarm has batteries, I must face that wall. The wall had significance, only I was too selfish to tend to the blemishes. My husband decided to repaint the wall to cover the exposed blemishes. I walked to the wall to run my hands across the final finish only to see that the blemishes were still there: it’s just not so easy to see, but I know that they are still there. Stop trying to erase your blemishes, because your blemishes have a story. Your blemishes control your hot and cold emotions, and even when the alarm in your life just needs a set of new batteries, tend to your blemishes.

Sometimes, things and even people will test your spirit in this unfamiliar place. Maybe unfamiliar is not such a bad thing when you think back about all the times that you were in an unfamiliar place, and God brought you out. He brought you out then. He will bring you out now. Stand still. Allow Him to work within you. Do not allow others to take the wheel over your emotions while you are sitting in the passenger seat watching them drive your dreams. You are getting ready to drive into who you are, and those stumbles will have no choice but to move. It is in the unfamiliar place that you must confront some things and place grace on those things. It may not be easy now, but it will become a breeze as you gain power “in your already strength.”

Close those open areas in your life so that you can move to your next unfamiliar place where you will pick up growth, courage, strength, healing, new dreams and passions. The familiar place can sometimes become a comfortable place. The only familiar place that we should experience is with Him. Stop being comfortable and stand. I heard something deep down inside of me that whispered, “Do you trust me my daughter?” My heart said, “yes,” so I have to trust the “yes.”

Stay grounded. When you are in it, it is hard to see out of it. The familiar Word of God will bring you through it. You will NOT look like what you have been through. Take back your position as the head and own it. I speak over your life that there will be no division while you are in this unfamiliar place. Walk in agreement. A friend of mine said to me, “you must become your person.” Get up and move.

Ariane Williams is a teacher, minister, published author and liturgical dancer. Email her at arianewilliams810@yahoo.com.