Author: Oluwatayo Alofun

Continuing from where we left off, let’s explore the third type of experience that believers can encounter: Normal Experiences. These are the experiences that the majority of Christians will go through at various points in their walk with God. Unlike exceptional experiences, which are rare and often extraordinary, normal experiences are more common and routine, yet they play an important role in shaping our faith and testimony.

As believers, our journey with God encompasses different experiences, each shaping our faith and testimony. These experiences determine how we live and how others see God’s work in our lives. There are three key types of experiences that define our walk as children of God:

As we enter the month of July, it’s a reminder that we are halfway through the year. This moment gives us an opportunity to reflect on our journey with God and our identity in Him. A few years ago, I had a revelation that still rings in my heart to this day. In that moment, I heard the words, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. The words echoed in my spirit, and I felt an intense focus on the second part: …in whom I am well pleased.

When Ezra confronted the people about their sin, he didn’t just call for confession-he called for change. And the people responded with something rare and powerful: radical obedience. They didn’t argue, delay, or look for loopholes. They said, “You are right. We must do as you say.” What followed was a painstaking process of separating from their sinful choices to restore their covenant with God. It wasn’t easy. It was deeply personal. But they were willing-because holiness was worth it.

Imagine standing in the cold, pouring rain, shivering and wet-not because you had to, but because your heart was broken. That’s the scene in Ezra 10:9–11. The people of Israel gathered, trembling not just from the weather, but from the weight of conviction. They had sinned, and they knew it. Yet instead of retreating to comfort or covering themselves in excuses, they stood in the rain and owned their wrong. It was raw, it was uncomfortable, and it was the beginning of real change.

True repentance isn’t just about feeling sorry-it’s about taking action. In Ezra 10:3–4, the people who had compromised by marrying pagan women didn’t just weep over their sin; they made a covenant to turn away from it. It was a painful and complicated decision, but it showed that their repentance was real. They were willing to separate from anything that stood in the way of holiness.

Ezra had just poured out his heart in repentance-grieved by the people’s compromise, heartbroken by how far they had strayed. But it was in that moment of deep sorrow that something powerful happened: hope was sparked. Shekaniah stood up and declared what we all need to remember-“In spite of this, there is still hope.” That’s the beauty of repentance. It doesn’t end in despair-it opens the door to restoration.

When Ezra heard about the people’s compromise, he didn’t respond with blame or distance-he broke. He tore his clothes, fell to his knees, and poured out his heart in a prayer of confession-not just for himself, but on behalf of the entire nation. He hadn’t personally sinned in the matter, yet he identified so deeply with the people’s failure that he wept as if it were his own. This is the heart of a true reformer-one who carries the burden of others in prayer and repentance.

After all the effort to return, rebuild, and restore their worship, Ezra received shocking news-the very people God had brought back from exile were already slipping into the same sins that led them there. They had intermarried with pagan nations, not just culturally, but spiritually-opening the door to practices that dishonored God. It wasn’t just about relationships; it was about compromise. A slow, quiet drift away from holiness.

There’s nothing quite like the relief of arriving safely after a long, uncertain journey. Ezra and the exiles had traveled hundreds of miles through dangerous territory, without military protection. They carried valuable treasures and young children-easy targets for robbers. But instead of relying on armed guards, they relied on the hand of God. And just as they had trusted, God brought them through every challenge to their destination.