I want to start off this blog by talking about what the wilderness is; google says the wilderness is "an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region." Some other definitions it gives are, "a neglected or abandoned area" or "a position of disfavor". Does this sound like familiar territory for you? Do you feel neglected and abandoned? Do you feel stuck in an "inhospitable" place? We see countless people in the bible in the middle of the wilderness, figuratively and literally. Lets look at a few together and some truths we can take from their experience.
THE LORD PROVIDES IN THE WILDERNESS:
Lets take a look at Moses and the Israelites time in the wilderness. Exodus 15:22 says, "Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the LORD issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” They were walking in the wilderness, with no clean water, and the Lord used a STICK to provide them the provision they needed to keep going. If the Lord can do that why do we so often struggle to believe he can provide for us? Oh so often we struggle to believe the Lord will provide a job, an opportunity, heck a boyfriend! I think if the Lord can use a stick to provide for the Israelites then he can take whatever our situation is and PROVIDE. Matthew 6:26 puts it this way, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" The answer is YES! The Lord calls you his daughter/son and he WILL provide for you, whatever the situation.
HE ALWAYS PROVIDES A WAY TO ESCAPE TEMPTATION:
A lot of times we see the enemy attack the most and the hardest when we are in the wilderness. Our biggest example of this is when Jesus himself was in the wilderness. He had been there for 40 days fasting. To say he was in a vulnerable state would be an understatement, but isn't that normally how the enemy works? He shows up at our most vulnerable. Let's look at how Jesus himself dealt with this. "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him." Jesus gave us the example of exactly how we are to combat temptation when we are in the wilderness: WITH SCRIPTURE! The word of God is our mightiest weapon and we need to start thinking of it as such. The Bible says it is sharper than a double edged sword, so lets use it to fight when we are in the middle of the wilderness.
So what wilderness are you in right now? Trying to find a job post grad? (me!!!) Do you want a boyfriend so bad but, it just feels like no body wants you? Maybe your parents are getting a divorce. Maybe your moving! Maybe your experiencing the loss of a close friend. Maybe your stuck in the same sin cycle and don't know how to get out. I don't know what your wilderness looks like, but I do know that we serve a LOVING God who wants to see you come through and will provide for you every step of the way...even when it looks like theres no end in sight. David says it like this in Psalms 23:4, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Hold onto the truth that the same God David is referring to is the same God today. No matter how dark the valley is, there is light at the end, even if you can't see it yet!
I also want to encourage you to bring people into the wilderness with you! Breakthrough happens when we bring community in, when we lean on each other, and when we confess to each other. I encourage you to reach out to a Godly friend about your situation. Ask her to pray for you and ask her to come a long side you. If you don't have anyone to go to, we would love to be that resource for you! Click the button below and it will take you to our prayer resource. It can be anonymous or you can put your name and contact to have someone to reach out to. It's not weird, we promise! We want to walk along side you in this journey.
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