Kathi Pelton: "There Is Hope for the Hurting and Healing for Those in Despair"

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

Do you find yourself in a dark season where you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel?

If so, this latest word by Kathi Pelton will offer you great hope and encouragement for your life.

Kathi shares about a time in her life when God was dealing with some deep wounds in her soul:

"God was hard at work in order to set me free of deep pain and bondages that I had let fester deep in my soul for years. These places of bondage had been keeping me from experiencing true intimacy and joy. Of course, during this time, the enemy was trying to take full advantage of my vulnerable state, as my emotions were vacillating between truth and lies numerous times a day. But greater was He who was within me than he who desired to destroy me."

This story has a wonderful ending, and yours will too... because God is GREATER! We pray this word gives you the encouragement you need to carry on in hope. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

In Christ,

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

Thank you for making the always-free Elijah List Ministries possible. To partner with us, click here.

Your donations truly help us keep these emails free for you. Donate at:

Give a Monthly Gift

How God Defeated Death in Me

Over twenty-five years ago, I went through a season where God began going after deep-rooted pain and strongholds in my life. I had stuffed them down into a deep place so that I could function as a wife, mother and even as a minister—but God (in His mercy) desired to surface them in order to heal me. During that season I experienced such deep pain that often it felt hard to breathe, but God was at work in me.

At times I truly wondered if I would come out on the other side. My husband and I had four very small children, and we were a part of a church and leadership team that was very supportive of my healing process (although the length of my process tested the patience of some, understandably). For me, there was no hiding "the mess" or pretending that I was fine. Those closest to me prayed for me and surrounded me, but they knew that I was the one who had to choose to hang onto the Lord to carry me through. They could not do that for me.

God was hard at work in order to set me free of deep pain and bondages that I had let fester deep in my soul for years. These places of bondage had been keeping me from experiencing true intimacy and joy. Of course, during this time, the enemy was trying to take full advantage of my vulnerable state, as my emotions were vacillating between truth and lies numerous times a day. But greater was He who was within me than he who desired to destroy me.

God knew what to do, and He knew exactly what I needed to be set free. Though there were many days during that three-year period where it appeared to me (and to those around me) as though the enemy might win, God was not finished with me and was not going to let me go. He wasn't going to be satisfied with a partial healing; He was going to go after the very root, where a spirit of death was residing. And it was there that He breathed life and resurrection into my soul. In His kindness, He didn't stop short of that deep root, but, layer upon layer, He carried me to that place so that I could partner with Him and choose life. He defeated death in me! (Photo via Unsplash)

He's Going to the Deep Roots

I'm sharing this with you because I am keenly aware that God will not settle for seeing His sons and daughters live in captivity to pain and bondages. In His love and mercy, He won't settle for a partial healing, but He patiently and deliberately will go to the deep roots that have held His children in bondage. These roots have kept them from the pure intimacy He desires to share with them. They have robbed them of experiencing true joy and freedom, and have damaged their souls.

If this is you, the enemy may be trying to take advantage of your vulnerability right now—but do not lose hope, because the victory belongs to the Lord! As you trust in Him, you will see that soon the pain will pass and the chains will be broken. Just allow the Lord to take you all the way through. He has not abandoned you and you are not beyond help. Remember, He came into the world for the sick, the hurting, and the captives—to set them free.

Restored in the Wilderness

This is the passage of Scripture that God gave me during those three years:

"'Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

"'In that day,' declares the Lord, 'you will call Me "my husband:" you will no longer call Me "my master." I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked. In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.'" (Hosea 2:14-20)

God took me into that wilderness to restore me and to heal me. It was His kindness that led me there. In that painful place He removed from me every "master" that held my life captive, and He brought me into true intimacy and covenant with Him.

I learned to lean upon Him, trusting in areas that had been kept hidden and separate from Him. Dependency became my song of surrender and my declaration of freedom.

"Friends: 'Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?'

"She: 'Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth.'" (Song of Songs 8:5, emphasis added) (Photo via Pexels)

Lean on Him! He Is Removing All Captivity!

The captivity of Egypt is being removed from God's people. Every mindset of captivity, every spiritual stronghold that brings captivity, every lie and every spirit that is unholy must go. He is your Deliverer! He is the victorious One who will not fail you. Put your hope in Him and lean upon Him with full surrender. Don't run from Him, but run to Him.

"Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.' But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May Your blessing be on Your people." (Psalm 3:1-8)

There is freedom and restoration just ahead as you cling tightly to Him. He will not fail you. Let Him carry you through. How glad I am that He delivered me from my captivity and gave me a life that is beyond what I ever dreamed possible—and an intimacy with Him that would not have been possible if He had not healed me.

If you will lean on Him, one day you will look back upon this time and say, "It was worth it. God was so merciful and faithful to not leave me in captivity." That is what I say every day.

What a beautiful Savior and wonderful Father!

Whatever you do, don't miss another ELIJAH LIST email! Subscribe at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.

Kathi Pelton
Inscribe Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.inscribeministries.com

Jeffrey and Kathi Pelton live in Portland, Oregon. Jeffrey is a writer, teacher and book editor. Kathi is an author and prophetic voice to the Church. They walk with nations and individuals to see God's original intent fulfilled. Their ministry, Inscribe Ministries, was founded upon the verse from Habakkuk 2:2 that says, "Then the LORD answered me and said: 'Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.'"

To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.

Find us on:
* Facebook click here
* XAPiT click here