By: Elizabeth Haarberg

The Oddities of the Wild

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

The wilderness is a strange place. As much as it can feel unnerving to be in the wilderness, there’s also a purpose.

Here’s what I’ve learned about the wilderness:

1. Just because I’m in the wilderness, I don’t drag others in to the wild. The wilderness can be experienced by an individual, such as it was for Jesus, but it can also be for a whole group, such as it was for the Israelites. Discern who is in the woods with you.
2. I can’t walk out someone’s wilderness experience for them. This is really hard as a parent. When my children are in their own wilderness, all I can do is support and encourage them. 
3. There is purpose for the wilderness. The unknown can be unnerving, but embracing the wilderness and learning to trust God in His wisdom will make the lessons in the wilderness make sense.
4. Trying to leave the wilderness before the lesson is learned won’t speed up the process.
5. It’s hard to figure out what’s coming next. When I’m in the wilderness, God is using this process to increase trust. God doesn’t always give me insight on what to expect.

There are many stories in the Bible that talk about the wilderness. Jesus spent a significant number of days in the wild before He began his ministry. Jesus’ experience is perhaps the most powerful example of why the wilderness is important in our spiritual journey.

“The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.”

Mark 1:12-13 ESV

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1 ESV

God also uses the wilderness in many ways to draw people close to Him.

From an outsider’s point of view, many see the wilderness as misdirection or a person who has no direction. The person looking in may not understand the importance of the wilderness. They just think it is a negative  experience.

“For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’” Exodus 14:3 ESV

Don’t avoid the unknown; your wilderness experience has meaning and purpose. Focus on resting in God and allow the journey to increase your level of trust in Him.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado