May 6, 2021

The definition of “Wilderness” is: an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.
a neglected or abandoned area.

We hear about being in the “wilderness”, but do we know what that really is?
Matthew, Mark & Luke all give an account of Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days & 40 nights in the Judaean Desert after being baptized by John the Baptist. During that time Satan came to Jesus & tried to tempt him. Jesus had fasted all that time & the tempter came to him and said, “turn these stones to bread”. But Jesus answered, “Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”. But even though the tempter kept taunting him, he never relented.
Imagine…. The desert, uninhabited, inhospitable, neglected area where you are all alone. Have you been there? Sometimes it feels like it. A friend told me that the first 8 mo of 2020 felt like she was in the wilderness. She spent all of her time along except the few hours after her husband got home from work & they didn’t’ enjoy their usual weekends out because …. Well, covid…. I am sure many people felt that way. I also know on top of covid, there are all of life’s other struggles too that add to the desolation we might feel during a time like this.
Sometimes we are in a “wilderness” of our own making. Separated (temporarily) from Jesus by our unforgiven sin. Sometimes, like Job, it’s not our fault. Sometimes God places you in the wilderness. It can be a great time of growth!. The good news is that the maker of heaven and earth, YOUR creator, has not moved! He is there waiting for you to call on Him. He may not pluck you immediately out of the wilderness, but He will sit right next to you! He is NEVER far away.