Investing in the Training Ground and Victory Property of the Wilderness

The wilderness.  We read about it in the Bible; Mark’s preached and written on it before; and we’ve experienced our own wildernesses; individually and as a couple.  Today, I saw not one but two thoughts on the wilderness.  I’ve come to learn that anytime something is repeatedly highlighted, it may be God trying to get my attention.

One thought presented the position that sometimes it is our response causing the delay of exiting the wilderness because of complaining.  The other posits, “God does not lead us into the wilderness to destroy us; He leads us into the wilderness to deliver us.” (See Deuteronomy 29:5-15.)  For the Israelites, God provided while repositioning their hearts before they were permitted to exit the wilderness.

Training Ground

Every leader will be trained in a wilderness season.  This is to be expected, and therefore, just because they are in such a tumultuous place doesn’t necessarily remove them from their office, calling, or anointing.  Often, they must lead others through the same wilderness they are now navigating.  Sometimes, the task of leading comes after they have exited their own wilderness experience, but it can also occur simultaneously.  Think about it, Moses had his own emotional reactions to the forty-years in the desert while leading the nation through each of their experiences.

Empathy is better than theory in my opinion; you cannot have empathy without experiencing the difficult and broken things that happen in a lifetime.  Mark and I are no different and often find ourselves leading our board or clients through while we are not yet in our promised land.

A frequent observation is, “Wow! Things have been so hard for y’all; This season is so persistent; or I don’t know how you guys keep going in the face of such difficulties.”  While the hard is still hard, each day, we get up and choose to persevere despite the circumstances.  What if the delay is because we haven’t quite grasped the lesson He has for us, or because others haven’t responded to God’s request for their role in our journey?  What if the delay is because God is working something grand behind the scenes, and He will get even more glory by triumphing over seemingly insurmountable circumstances.

Part of my wilderness is continuing in the strength of the Lord because I have none of my own.  I’m exhausted.  I don’t say that flippantly.  I’m exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Some of this is attributed to hormonal imbalances, which I am working to correct, while other aspects are the byproduct of the length of time it is taking to reach some of the desired milestones in Blue Fire Legacy’s development.

Another part of my wilderness is pressing on and worshiping in community in the absence of deep friendships.  This can feel isolating and create a space for the enemy to whisper messages of rejection to me.  Set apart is just exactly that; being removed from a collective, even if it is one that presumably shares the same values.  You do know that not all Christians agree on every matter, right?  Truth is, I am not the only one to be rejected for my faith, but it isn’t a fun place for sure.

Victory Property

God designed the wilderness just as He did the lush garden.  The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where Satan tempted Him (Matthew 4:1-9).  Remember, empathy is better than theory.  Jesus endured the wilderness like many before Him, and those that have come after Him following in His footsteps.  The difference is that we have the hope of walking out of the wilderness because Jesus triumphed over it (Matthew 4:10-11).  We cannot do it on our own.  There simply is not enough willpower to defeat the trials of the wilderness without the covering, authority, and power of Jesus living through us. 

In our human state, resistance and resilience is built over time.  We can undertake harder and harder things when we build up to it, whereas, if we tried to start at the desired end result, it would be our complete undoing.  The wilderness is both training ground and victory property.  Jesus went to the wilderness before He went to the cross.  He defeated Satan in each.

As you re-examine the wilderness experiences of Adam and Eve, Joseph, Moses, Noah, David, the Old Testament Prophets and the Apostles of the New Testament, look for the preparation, purpose, and provision in the pain they endured.

Looking for these patterns in the lives of others that have lived before us can help us do the same in our own lives even while we are still waiting for God to usher us towards and through our wilderness exit into His Promises yet to be fulfilled.  Are you in a wilderness right now with family dynamics, your job, ministry posting, marriage, etc.?  What lessons are you learning, or need to learn, through this season? What is God doing in the midst to sustain you?

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ESV