Seething in the Wilderness?

In my Christian walk, I always understood the wilderness to be a thing that happens to you. I was totally unprepared for what seemed to be an experience of strolling into the wilderness by myself, or of my own volition.

Then He showed me: John the Baptist dwelt in the wilderness by the orchestration of the Holy Spirit in order for scripture to be fulfilled.  He became very comfortable there. Our Lord Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness “for the test” (Matthew 4, MSG).

“Wait, what?”. It rocked the foundation of my theology. He went willingly into the wilderness, following the leading of the Holy Spirit? Wow!

The wilderness by definition (dictionary.com) is ” wild and uncultivated region, as of forest or desert, uninhabited or inhabited only by wild animals; a tract of wasteland.”

Until I saw this definition, my understanding of the wilderness was simply “Desert. A dry and arid place”. Truth be told, if I had known that the wilderness could be a piece of natural wonderland, maybe even a secluded beach, being a nature lover I would not have dreaded or resisted it as much as I did.
Up until this experience, my understanding essentially meant my prayer about the wilderness was “Lord, keep me OUT of that place. We’re good? In Jesus’ name, Amen”

Wilderness’ to me was a sentence with hard labor, punishment for dark and dire deeds that were not covered by the blood of Jesus. Finding that the place the Holy Spirit had led me, the destination I had eagerly and excitedly headed for was a wilderness, came as a shock to me. I first thought I must have taken the wrong turn. Then as time passed, I thought: “Oh,  it’s a practical joke. I must be having a virtual experience. Anytime now, the game will be over and I will be back in the perfect reality” (which, by the way was what I thought I deserved. Afterall, Jesus had paid the bribe to keep me out of the wilderness). Yes, you read that right. Until this happened, I did not realize that I thought of it that way: that Jesus had ‘handled’ it for me (that’s another story).

As the wilderness took over everything: ministry, finances, businesses, health, relationships, shaking even my marriage to the core, I became very resentful and angry. “This was NOT the deal! Have I served You in vain? I thought You had this handled?!” Silence.

I stopped kicking. It was sapping the little energy I had left, anyway.   “What do I need to do to get out of here?” Silence. But I was making progress.

“What will You have me learn? ” Ah, at last. “Sit with Me and see the beauty of the wilderness. Take your mind off yourself. Get rid of your preoccupation with possessions. Meditate on your REAL blessings, not your belongings. Rise above these hardships. Become adjusted to the wilderness. Serve others. Many have been waiting for me to turn up through You”.

With His help, I developed a rodeo mentality. Like John the Baptist, I took on the appearance of the wild. It took many by surprise. It cost me some friendships. Others felt sorry for me. A couple turned up to give encouragement and support. Who would’ve thought God had prepared people to share the wilderness with you?

More lessons were learned daily. The wilderness will refine you. Like a furnace  of fire, it will consume brick, brack and everything that is not true but the wilderness is not to destroy you,  it is to build you up. “As soon as [the appointed time for this experience] is up, and not a day before, I’ll turn up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out  – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for” (Jeremiah 29, MSG)

The future I hope for! I had almost forgotten. It seemed so far away. My hopes seemed like an abandoned project and yet here He was, reassuring me He had not forgotten, rekindling them.

Today, He is saying to you who are seething, writhing in discomfort in the wilderness: “I [am] turning things around for you. Thanksgiving will pour out of the windows, laughter will spill through the doors, things will get better and better… [you’ll] thrive and flourish (Jeremiah 30, MSG).
“[You] went out looking for a place to rest [and] met God out looking for you. God [is telling you]: I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love,  love and more love” (Jeremiah 31, MSG)

Beloved, quit seething with anger and resentment in your wilderness. He has a plan that will blow your mind. Trust Him in this valley, through this fire. It will be said of you:
“They found grace out  in the wilderness”!!!

Shalom!

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