Beyond My Reach: Suffering for Christ's Sake

Beyond My Reach: Suffering for Christ's Sake

As I reflect on the highs and lows of 2023, I find myself overwhelmed with emotions and moved to tears. In summary, I acknowledge that this year, God has allowed me to be stretched “Beyond My Reach.” I'd like to take a moment to share some of those moments with you.

The Heartache: Long Suffering

Experiencing heartache is something that every human being goes through. This year, God has allowed me to experience deep heartache and betrayal, and if you are reading this, you probably have to. At the beginning of the year, the Lord told me to fast and pray for Him to increase my capacity, along with some other instructions. One of the fruits of the spirit that is not talked about enough to me is long-suffering according to Galatians 5:22-23. We can also look at Philippians 1:29 which talks about suffering for Christ’s sake. To me, natural suffering and suffering for Christ’s sake are not the same. When you suffer for Christ’s sake, for the most part, you are literally laying down your agenda and volunteering to suffer for Christ’s sake. In this past season, a lot of my prayers for myself have been, "Lord, give me the strength to endure and not to become bitter. Lord, heal my heart," and He has.

This year, I've lost friends who were near and dear to my heart. It hurt. I've experienced betrayal from people whom I've shown nothing but love to, attempting to undermine me. It hurt. Earlier this year, God revealed to me the hearts of several individuals—some I had close relationships with, and others I knew from a distance. It hurt. It was painful because I knew my intentions were pure, yet they sought to belittle, destroy, or find fault in me to elevate themselves. Despite the pain, I choose not to expose or speak ill of these individuals because God loves them too, and wishes to bring healing to them. It became so overwhelming and agonizing that one morning, after waking from yet another dream revealing multiple people's intentions toward me, I broke down. I cried on and off throughout that day; it hurt so much, and all my husband and daughters could do was pray for me.  It was the release that I needed because it was one thing after another.

I recognize that I was being attacked because I gave God a full YES, this year. God also allowed it to strengthen me and to allow me to see that not everyone can walk with me or go where I was going in Him. The enemy tried to use it to get me to shrink back, but I refused to do so. Of course, the attacks became stronger, but let me tell you, my family and I saw God fight for me, and not just for me, but for them too. I know God personally as Jehovah Gibor, the God of War."

The Spirit of Jealousy

One of the things that attack me the most is jealousy and comparison from other people, and it's difficult because I genuinely love people. I am literally walking out of the call on my life and being obedient to the Lord! I never share negativity on my platforms because:

1. I do not want to give the enemy a platform, and

2. The Lord told me, “When your enemies and foes come looking for you on social media, allow them to find me, not your flesh.”

Though at times, it is tempting to address my enemies and foes on the platforms that God has given me, I remember what He said. I want to be found blameless in God’s eyes (Matthew 10:16).

I do not gloat or relish in this because jealousy is a very dangerous spirit to operate in. Just look at David and Saul in the Bible. Saul tried to kill David several times, and it broke David’s heart. In the past, I would shrink back to make others feel comfortable, but I cannot do that anymore. Because of that, the enemy tried to use people and setbacks to destroy me. As I studied the story of King Saul and David throughout scripture, I kept seeing… that God was with David (2 Samuel 5:10, 1 Samuel 18:14). This year alone, God has definitely stretched me, “Beyond My Reach”. My discipline has increased significantly, and I have had the Word of God daily in one hand while building and being radically obedient to what God has instructed me to do with the other hand.

If you can relate to my story, recognize that the enemy desires for us to serve from a bitter and unhealed place. This is the very thing that I help others overcome. So, I also recognize that the enemy wants my assignment to be tainted, null, and void. I cannot preach and teach one thing and then live in total contradiction to that. I must live, breathe, and embody exactly what I teach and preach, and this is the same thing for you.

Through it all, God was there. On the days when I did not want to get out of bed, the Lord would tell me, “Daughter, get up, you cannot stay here, you have to keep going.” I wrestled with it, but I would muster the strength to get up. When I got up and pushed myself to pray and get into the Word of God, the Lord would meet me and give me strength like no other. I was definitely stretched “Beyond My Reach.”

Today, my heart is whole, and I have forgiven them. If you struggle with unforgiveness towards yourself or others, I encourage you to pick up a copy of my workbook that the Lord instructed me to write: "A Heart that Forgives: A Key to Inner Healing".  It will bless you.  As Believers, we are told to forgive others but often not taught how.  This workbook is full of strategies and education that I have taught my clients over the years as I helped them navigate their Forgiveness Journey.

Building with God

The next part is business. I've been building what you see for many years. Almost everything you see wasn't built by a team but by the works of my hands through trial and error and the backing of God’s angels. I've had some help along the way, but they did not have the capacity to help me build, and that's okay. I know my team is coming. It hasn't been easy; it has come with great warfare, and I've had to push, "Beyond My Reach," to learn, study, create, and invest in the visions that God has given me. I know many try to copy me or become curious about what I am doing, but this has cost me and my family a lot. Anything you want to build will cost you.

One day, my husband and I were talking, and God was using him to pour into me (I love when He does that 😊). My husband asked me, “Do you ever work on a project and then forget what you did?” I said, “Yup, all the time. I have to backtrack over my work and try to recall what I actually did that day.” My husband replied, “When you are working, God’s Angels literally take over you and begin to work through you.” I said, “I absolutely believe that because, after I pray and ask God to help me figure this stuff out, I can feel the power of the Holy Spirit consume me as I write, create, and build what God has called me to build.” This year, I've been relentless and have practiced radical obedience even more, even when it is uncomfortable. Through all the long-suffering, I've become stronger and more confident in who God has called me to be. Speaking of Being Relentless, sign up for my workshop, Prophetic Vision Planning. God desires to build with you too. He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).

Prosperity and Success

Many people talk about prosperity, success, and wealth, and as I said earlier, very few talk about the fruits of the spirit according to Galatians 5:22-23. As a follower of Jesus Christ, these are the ingredients needed to reach your destination and sustain whatever God has promised you. I know I am successful, but not in the way you might be thinking. I am successful because I am in my right mind, I have a relationship with God, and He has truly given me Beauty for Ashes through my family. I understand that, regardless of what I go through in life, my identity and self-worth are not tied to what I do, but rather in who I am in Christ Jesus. Over the years, I've counseled many individuals considered "successful" in society's eyes, yet they are broken on the inside, using worldly success to compensate for their lack. In God, we lack nothing (Psalm 34:9-10) but we have to know and embrace this truth.

We often share our highs, especially on social media, but it was important for me to share that everyone is fighting a battle that not many people know about. I am thankful for my husband and those God had placed in my life to pray for me and send me encouraging words as God led them. I've had to fight to keep my heart pure, not retaliate against those who have tried to harm me, and stand in the face of adversity. You too can do the same! I still choose to love and pour into those who God has called me to.

The song that inspired me to share some of my story is by J. Moss called, Beyond My Reach.  You can check it out below:

My prayer is that this blog has inspired you and encouraged you to BE RELENTLESS and HEAL ON PURPOSE FOR YOUR PURPOSE. Don’t lead from a bitter heart but from a pure heart.  I would love to hear your heart by commenting down below!

Shakeeta Torres, Speaker, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, Life Coach, Coach Trainer

..... A Warrior for Christ