Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

In Those Wilderness Seasons

DEUTERONOMY 32:10-12 – “He (the Lord) found him (Jacob) in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the Lord alone guided him, no foreign god was with him.

THEME OF THE DAY. IN THOSE WILDERNESS SEASONS. Jacob isn’t alone. Every child of God experiences where he is and what he is enduring. He is in a harsh desert wilderness. Granted, we may not find ourselves in a literal desert and wilderness, but spiritually speaking, these two places are visited by God’s people. Not by their choice, but by His as part of His continual, yet mysterious, work in making us like His Son, the Lord Jesus. And before we go on, don’t forget where Jesus Himself was sent by the Spirit to do successful battle against the devil – Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). And the man after God’s own heart, David, developed intense longing for His God in a desert wilderness – O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1). We will only learn some spiritual lessons in the harsh seasons and places of life so don’t try to re-locate to an “earthly oasis” of comfort and ease. In doing so, we will miss out on much growth opportunities in the Lord Jesus. But let’s be honest. Trips into spiritual deserts and wildernesses are painful, seem to last forever, exhaust a heart, and tempt us to complain with cries of deliverance. By the way, God will not answer our prayers for deliverance simply because we want deliverance. He is committed far more to our conformity to the image of His Son than He is our creature comfort in this life.

As God seems fit to take us into those wilderness seasons, there are encouraging truths in today’s scripture to help us not only get through them, but spiritually profit by them.

First, we will not be alone – He (the Lord) found him (Jacob, us) in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness. God is true to His promise to never leave or forsake us, but this must be grasped by faith, not feelings. When trips to the wilderness are upon us, feelings are all over the place, and should we only rely upon God’s Presence and help when we feel them, we are in for a very unstable Christian life of minimal growth. Feelings always betray, Never trust them. Cling to God’s truth always and especially in the wilderness. Though we may not sense His Presence, we have it. Rest there despite feelings.

Next, we will be cared for – He encircled him, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of his eye. God is not only with us in the desert wilderness but is actively shepherding us while there. It might be through a song, a sermon, or a brother and sister coming alongside to carry our burdens. Regardless of the means of God’s care for us, it will be there. Don’t try to figure out how He will care for you. Don’t try to determine His ways. Simply be alert and sensitive to the ways He is bringing His comforting Word to us in the wilderness. He will be faithful to care for us.

A third lesson is we will not be without guidance through the wilderness – the Lord alone guided him. Our God is not a God of confusion or chaos. If He guided us into this season of desert wilderness, then, He will guide us through it. If we maintain a close walk with Him during this difficult season, we will hear the still small voice of the Lord say, “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:20-21).

Yes, trips to the desert wilderness are not pleasant, but are necessary. Trust the Lord when He “schedules” those trips for us. They are for our good and His glory.

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for being my ever-present God in all seasons of my life.”

QUOTE: “God has not abandoned you in your wilderness. Since He sent you there, He will be with you there.”