Wilderness

Sometimes God has to take us to desolate places we are not familiar with, so that we will let Him lead. When we think of the word wilderness, our mind often gravitates to the thought of harsh survival. After all, there must be a dozen or more televised programs that have people competing to survive in unknown terrains. However, there are some things about the wilderness that we often miss, when our fears have us competing. 

The wilderness provides cleansing. 

Did you know that most of the clean watersheds and air are often found in the wilderness? Biblically speaking, this reminds me of when God utilized the wilderness to cleanse the Israelites from Egypt and Idols. We find this story throughout the pages of Deuteronomy. Time and again, God uses the harsh and desolate terrain to draw Israel out of their comforts and idolatrous habits and forced them to rely on Him. While they never mastered this perfectly, what we saw was that with each challenge and every plague or consequence, a new generation would rise and take the lead. A generation committed to God and throwing off garb of Egypt. Sometimes we don't even realize we need cleansing because we have become too comfortable with the dirt.

The wilderness provides safety.

Did you know that the wilderness has proven to be a safe haven for endangered species when habited places become too deadly for them to survive in? Biblically speaking, this reminds me of the time God used the wilderness to protect David from Saul and his army of the Kingdom who sought to kill him. We find this story in 1 Samuel 23 where God uses the wilderness to shelter and protect David. What seemed like a dangerous season, an isolating season, a hard season was actually God's protection. You see, Saul praised David for defeating the giant, and Saul benefited from David's Spirit and music, but when he was not ready to acknowledge David's anointing as the new king this led him to hunt David down, BUT GOD used the wilderness to shield him. Sometimes we don't even realize the things God is shielding from us because we are too busy complaining about the isolation. Isolation can be insulation. 

The wilderness provides solitude. 

Did you know spending up to 120 minutes alone in a week, has scientifically proven to be beneficial mentally, physically and emotionally. Biblically speaking, this reminds me when God used the wilderness, the isolation, the separation to impact both Jacob and Moses in a deep way. (Exodus 3 and Deuteronomy 32) Not only did the wilderness provide protection from what they both were running from (Esau and Pharoah), it brought about a new name and a new purpose for each man. In the wilderness Jacob received a new name. In the wilderness Moses received a new purpose. Jacob, running as a thief into solitude became Israel, father of the 12 tribes. Moses, running as a murder into solitude became Moses, the leader who walked right back into Egypt to draw Isreal out. Sometimes solitude is the only way God can get you to listen to His will and His word over your life, in a world where people are constantly telling you who you are and the things you will never do.

The wilderness provides resilience. 

Did you know that time within wilderness and nature has been proven to lower depression and anxiety and wield you to be not only rested but resourceful? Biblically speaking, this reminds me of the time God used the wilderness to renew Elijah and build him back up, as mentioned in 1 Kings chapter 19. While Elijah carried the power and authority of God, performed miracles and witnessed to thousands, he also showed us how men of great ministry can fall privy to depression and anxiety. During this time Jezebel was on the war path, and she wasn't stopping until she had Elijah's blood on her hands. Despite trusting in God or being used by the Spirit to evoke His power in miraculous ways, the pressure of being hunted down broke him. He found himself fleeing into a wilderness with extreme anxiety and depression - ready to call it quits and even end his life. YET, God used the wilderness to give him a break. He led him by resources he knew would renew him. An isolated cave. A freshwater brook. God provided him food through His own creation. Before you know it, Elijah was not only rested, and renewed, he was strong enough to find that resilience and go back to work. Sometimes what we go through is a means and method to make us stronger for what we have to face next. 

The wilderness strips us from all luxuries.

The wilderness silences all distractions.

The wilderness separates us from false reliance's.

The wilderness sometimes even shows us what we need.

Much like the story of Hagar and Ishmael in Genesis 16 when they had an encounter with Jesus in the wilderness. they had lost the comforts of home. The silence in the atmosphere overwhelmed. They had no one and nothing to rely on. ENTER GOD. Sometimes we don't know what we need because we have too much of what we want confusing us and controlling us. In fact, I find that the only reason most people resent wilderness seasons are primarily because they cannot control the wild. It demands we give the lead to the only one who can help us. Our money isn't useful in the wilderness. Our family isn't useful in the wilderness. Our fame or status isn't useful in the wilderness. In the wilderness we find it is only us and God, and what He wants to do through us. The way we allow Him to lead often trajectories our surviving or our thriving. 

God says He will do a new thing in the wilderness in Isaiah 43:19.

God says He will make us dwell securely in the wilderness in Ezekiel 34:25.

God says He will nourish us in the wilderness in Revelation 12:6.

So maybe just maybe we need to let the wilderness do its job in us, because the more we desire to escape it, the more we may miss the benefits of being off road or out of the city. Your wilderness seasons isn't punishment, its preparation. 

Sincerely Selena