Have you ever found yourself in a wilderness wondering which way is out? Have you ever wandered in a wilderness season wondering where is that abundant life that was promised you?
God uses the wilderness to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him.
Before Jesus could enter the ministry or the full call on His life, He was led straight into the wilderness for forty days of prayer, fasting, and testing. Forty days! Jesus, Himself was in a wilderness of testing. For some of us, it may feel like forty months, forty years, or more.
In the wilderness, we’re stripped of all distractions. We find He is worthy of our praise. In the desert, we’re stripped of self-reliance. We learn His strength is made perfect in our weakness. In the wilderness, we learn to tune out the noise and tune into God. Then we can hear His still small voice more clearly. The desert is where we’re most uncomfortable. We learn He is the Comforter. In a wilderness of trials, we learn He is the Provider.
Certainly, there are temptations there. We try to fix things or quickly find a way out of hardship, or we try to look to other gods for answers. But He is the Waymaker and He alone is God. Could it be though that the trials, the desert of the soul, the stripping away, and the cutting off of worldly distractions is a blessing in disguise?
Lent is observed by many Christian denominations for forty days just like Jesus’s time in the wilderness. This is a season to seek God more deeply in self-denial, fasting, and prayer—just like Jesus did. Fasting may not be a literal refusal of food. Instead, it could be good to fast from social media. There is a constant pull of worldly comparison and at times envy for the life you think you want, but God wants you to draw closer to Him. Maybe it’s fasting from tv programs and taking time to hear clearly from God by spending that time in His Word instead of numbing out or being distracted by a show.
Just as Jesus passed the test in the wilderness to then fulfill His call on earth, what wilderness test are you facing? How does God want to use it for good?
Take the time to draw near to God. He’s not punishing you, but rather wants your undivided attention. After the wilderness and passing the test, comes promotion. And after that, you can hear God more distinctly for clear direction. After the wilderness season, you learn to fully lean on God.
Beloved:
Come away with Me and shut out the noise of the world whether—it’s fear or temptations that pull at your heart. Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you. I have good plans in store for you. But first, come into the wilderness with Me so that you learn to let go of many distractions, the strongholds in your life, and learn of My heart and My ways. I am for you, My beloved.
“Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40: 3)
“Immediately the Spirit compelled Him to go out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan...” (Matthew 4:1)
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...” (James 4:8)