Is God going to rescue my marriage?
Will we ever be happy again?
Am I going to die of this disease, or will God heal me?
When am I going to get out of all this and enjoy the promises of God over my life?
Has God forgotten about me?
These are some of the questions that we ask ourselves during our time in the wilderness.
The wilderness is a place that most of us would love to avoid. Given a choice, we would skip these kinds of seasons in our lives.
Why?
It is because of the testing and challenges that we go through this time. (James 1:12)
What Is The Wilderness In Christianity
Fortunately or unfortunately, the wilderness is not a place that you can avoid as a believer. It is also not a place that you go once in your lifetime. The wilderness is a time, season, or place that we go from time to time as long as we are here on earth.
It is a season or time when God takes us through purification, training, preparation, transformation, and inner healing.
Our Lord Jesus was led by the Spirit to the wilderness after baptism. He spent there 40 days and nights. Our 40 days and nights can be a week, month, or even years. It depends on what God is preparing us for. (Matthew 4:1-11)
Signs that you’re in the Wilderness
- Things start going from good to bad and out of control.
- Things seem to be moving slowly.
- Pain, weaknesses, and past mistakes are brought to the surface.
- You feel like you are being pulled away from the world
- Your finances may dry up
None of us wants to be in the wilderness, but we need to be prepared for it.
It Is Not Permanent
If you’re going through this season right now, remember that God is with you even though it does not feel like it. It may seem like the normal grace that always surrounds you is no longer there. But know that God is there because he says he will never leave us nor forsake us.
Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Also, remember that this is just for a season. It is not permanent for Jesus came that we may have life and life more abundantly. The wilderness is just a time when God wants to deal with some things in your heart or to prepare you for what lies ahead. It is not there to stay.
The best part is going through this season turns you into the person that God wants you to become. Remember, God can never give you more than you can handle. So do not be afraid. Ask him to fill you with strength and courage in your inner being.
In short
The wilderness season is not something that we all look forward to, but it is something that we all have to go through as children of God. It is in this place or season that God heals our hearts, prepares us for our ministries, and helps us to grow spiritually. Like any good parent, God wants to shape your character and help you to become Christ-like.
One of the ways that he does that is by taking you through the wilderness season. So be strong and courageous and ask God for more grace.