My Gilgal Moment

Healing, Identity, and the Rolling Away of Shame

In Joshua 5:7–9, we encounter one of the most striking moments in Israel’s journey into the Promised Land. The Scriptures tell us that after forty years of wandering in the wilderness, Joshua circumcised about half a million men... an entire generation who had been born during the desert years. This was no small undertaking. It was a painful, humbling process, and it required time to heal. Yet, it was also profoundly symbolic: before Israel could conquer the land, God was calling them to consecrate themselves fully, leaving behind the wilderness generation’s disobedience and embracing their new identity as His covenant people.

God declared over them: “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” That’s why the place was called Gilgal... “rolling away.” It marked the end of their shame and the solidifying of their new identity as a people belonging to God.

The Spiritual Circumcision of My Heart

Just as Israel had to pause for circumcision and healing before moving forward, God has called me into a season where He is working on my heart.  This time in my life has been both humbling and painful, but it is not a  moment of wasted time. It is a sacred time where the old is cut away so that the new can take root.

This is what God showed me from this passage:

“During your time of healing and restoration I have been using this time to circumcise your heart from your old identity and the things you believe about yourself that were not true. This is your Gilgal moment. A time of rest and healing. I have rolled away the shame of your old identity and am solidifying your position in your new identity.”

This is a powerful echo of the truth in Joshua 5. Circumcision was not just about the physical; it was about identity. It was a sign that the people belonged to God, set apart and chosen. In the same way, when God circumcises our hearts, He removes the lies, shame, and false beliefs that have shaped us, and He establishes His truth as the foundation of who we are.

A Time of Rest and Healing

Notice the pattern: circumcision, then rest, then mission. Israel could not immediately rush into battle. They had to remain in their camp, healing from the pain, allowing their bodies to adjust before stepping into their calling.

In our spiritual journey, we often resist this process. We want to move quickly from breakthrough to action. But God knows that healing and restoration take time. Our Gilgal moment is not about rushing forward… it’s about pausing to let God’s work of transformation go deep enough that we carry no trace of the old into our new season.

Rolled Away: The End of Shame

Shame has a way of chaining us to our past. It whispers lies about our worth and identity. But at Gilgal, God made a definitive statement: the reproach of Egypt… the shame of slavery, wandering, and failure… was gone. In the same way, He is declaring over us: the shame of our old identity has been rolled away. We are not who we once believed ourselfs to be. We are who God says we are… chosen, beloved, and secure.

Moving Forward in New Identity

After their healing, Israel celebrated Passover, remembered God’s deliverance, and prepared for Jericho. Their healing season transitioned into a season of victory. And the same is true for us. As God solidifies our identity, He equips us to walk in our calling with freedom and boldness.

Our Gilgal moment is not just about what is being cut away.. it is about what is being revealed. God is anchoring us in the truth of our new identity so we can step forward into the promises He has prepared for us.

Final Reflection

Joshua 5 reminds us that consecration precedes conquest, and identity precedes victory. God’s work in our hearts today is not an interruption... it is preparation. Rest in this season of healing, because He has rolled away our shame and is establishing us firmly in our true identity.

This is more than a time of waiting. This is a Divine interruption. This is our Gilgal moment.