There are seasons in our lives when God leads us through what feels like a wilderness. It may be a season of difficulty, waiting, testing, loneliness, or uncertainty. Yet the wilderness is not always a place of abandonment. Sometimes, it is the very place where God speaks to us most clearly.
The Lord may take us through the wilderness because He is preparing us for a higher and more excellent place.
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.”
— Hosea 2:14 (KJV)
God speaks in the wilderness. He guides us, corrects us, strengthens us, and teaches us to depend completely upon Him. What appears to be a difficult season may actually be part of God’s preparation for what He has planned ahead.
His Word Becomes Our Light
When we walk through unfamiliar places, we need direction. God’s Word becomes the lamp that guides our feet.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
— Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
The experiences we go through are not meaningless when God is leading us. He uses them to teach us obedience, faith, patience, humility, and dependence upon Him.
As we continue walking with Him, His grace sustains us.
It is only by the grace of God that we are still standing today. It is His grace that has carried us through situations we could not have overcome by our own strength.
Grace brought us this far, and grace will carry us forward.
The Wilderness Can Become a Place of Joy
The presence of difficulty does not mean the absence of God.
When the Lord speaks to our hearts and leads us by His Spirit, something changes within us. Even in difficult circumstances, He can fill our hearts with joy and peace.
The joy of the Lord does not depend upon our circumstances.
We may experience suffering for Christ, yet still have joy. We may face trials, yet remain peaceful. We may walk through uncertainty, yet continue trusting the One who knows the end from the beginning.
When our hearts become filled with the Holy Spirit, the love of God begins to overflow within us.
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
— Romans 5:5 (KJV)
The more we are filled with the Spirit, the more God’s love is manifested through our lives.
That love teaches us to endure, believe, hope, and persevere.
Nothing Can Separate Us From His Love
The Apostle Paul gives us one of the greatest assurances in Scripture:
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
— Romans 8:35 (KJV)
There may be tribulation.
There may be distress.
There may be persecution.
There may be hunger, hardship, or difficult circumstances.
But none of these things can separate the child of God from the love of Christ.
Paul continues:
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
— Romans 8:37 (KJV)
We do not overcome because we are strong in ourselves.
We overcome because Christ loves us.
The Lord is preparing His people to overcome every circumstance and ultimately reign with Christ.
God Is Preparing His People
God does not waste the experiences of our lives.
Every season can become part of His preparation.
The Lord may take us through different paths, experiences, and circumstances because He is shaping us for the place He has prepared.
What matters is not simply where we are today, but what God is doing within us while we are there.
He is preparing our hearts.
He is correcting our ways.
He is strengthening our faith.
He is teaching us obedience.
He is filling us with His Spirit.
He is teaching us to love Him more deeply.
And He is preparing us for His purpose.
Do Not Despise God’s Calling
The Lord has a calling for His people.
Jeremiah 3:14 says:
“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you.”
— Jeremiah 3:14 (KJV)
God calls His people to return to Him.
He calls us out of sin and into salvation.
He calls us from disobedience into obedience.
He calls us from spiritual wandering into fellowship with Him.
He calls us to be led by His Spirit.
And when we respond to that calling, He promises to gather and lead His people.
“I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.”
— Jeremiah 3:14 (KJV)
Therefore, do not despise the calling of God upon your life.
Even if the calling seems small in the eyes of the world, it is precious in the eyes of God.
It Is Never Too Late to Serve Him
Jesus spoke about workers who entered the vineyard even at the eleventh hour.
Some had worked from the morning, while others came much later. Yet those who came at the eleventh hour were also given a reward.
The message is powerful:
It is not too late to give your life completely to God.
Perhaps you feel that you have wasted years.
Perhaps you think you should have served God earlier.
Perhaps you believe that your past has disqualified you.
But if God is calling you today, answer Him today.
One day of wholehearted service to God is better than years of divided devotion.
The Lord looks at the heart.
He sees sincerity.
He sees sacrifice.
He sees faithfulness.
He sees the willingness to serve Him even when the cost is great.
Leave the Old Life Behind
As we approach a new season, we must not carry the old life into the new one.
God does not bring us through one year simply so that we can repeat the same spiritual condition in the next.
He wants to perfect us.
He wants to prepare us.
He wants to transform us.
Hebrews 12:1–2 reminds us to lay aside every weight and every sin that holds us back and to run the race with patience, looking unto Jesus.
Our eyes must remain upon Christ.
Not upon the world.
Not upon our past.
Not upon our failures.
Not upon our fears.
Our eyes must be fixed upon Jesus.
The World Is Temporary — His Kingdom Is Eternal
This world can deceive us.
Its attractions can distract us.
Its honors can disappear.
Its riches can pass away.
Its pleasures are temporary.
But the place God is preparing for His people is eternal.
There is coming a place where there will be no sorrow, no tears, no suffering, no hunger, and no pain.
There will be an eternal experience of dwelling with the Lord.
Therefore, let us not exchange eternal glory for temporary things.
The honor that comes from God is greater than anything this world can offer.
The glory of His presence is more valuable than earthly recognition.
A New Season Requires a Prepared Heart
As we step into another year or another season of life, let us ask ourselves:
What has God been doing in me?
What has He taught me?
What has He corrected in me?
What has He removed from me?
What has He placed within me?
What are the intentions of my heart?
Am I closer to Jesus than I was before?
Am I more obedient to His Word?
Am I more willing to serve Him?
Am I being led by the Holy Spirit?
These are the questions that matter.
God gives us time because He desires to prepare us.
He takes us through different experiences because He is making us ready for His purpose.
The wilderness is not the destination.
The wilderness is part of the preparation.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Whatever season you are currently walking through, do not give up.
If you are in the wilderness, God can speak to you there.
If you are in a season of testing, God can strengthen you there.
If you are suffering, God can sustain you there.
If you feel forgotten, God has not forgotten you.
If you have fallen, His grace can restore you.
If He has called you, do not despise that calling.
Keep walking.
Keep believing.
Keep serving.
Keep your heart surrendered.
And above all, keep your eyes on Jesus.
The same God who led you through the wilderness is the God who will lead you into His promised place.
Your wilderness has a purpose.
Your trials have a purpose.
Your preparation has a purpose.
And God’s calling upon your life has a purpose.
Do not turn back.
Do not lose heart.
Do not despise the day of preparation.
The Lord is preparing you for something greater in Him.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
— Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
May our lives be completely surrendered to Christ, our hearts filled with His love, and our eyes continually fixed upon Him until the day we enter the place He has prepared for us.
Amen.
