The Paradox of the Wilderness
It’s easy for us to view seasons of difficulty, obscurity, and uncertainty as a bad thing. However, while the wilderness presents tough challenges, it doesn’t have to be devoid of goodness.
"The desert is where our faith is refined, our hearts are purified, and our dependence on God is deepened." - Richard Foster
Last week, I shared about the necessity of the wilderness; it’s a journey we all must undertake. Today, I'm exploring another lesson I’m learning: the goodness of the wilderness. Despite being filled with pain, loneliness, and even death, the wilderness holds a goodness that exceeds its hardships.
To be clear, I’m not minimizing the pain and heartbreak that the wilderness brings. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of death, failure, and loss. I’m inviting us to look within the pain to find the purpose.
Finding purpose in pain feels paradoxical, but much of Christianity is. Good Friday is a perfect example; we are faced with the irony of labeling the death of Jesus as "good". What makes his death good is the same thing that makes the wilderness good: the outcome. While what happens to us in the wilderness may not always be good, the transformation that happens in us can be.
The wilderness serves as our crucifix, refining our faith, purifying our hearts, and strengthening our reliance on God. The dry, desolate valleys can be turned into a “prep school” of sorts, preparing us for our role in the mission of God. Whether we like it or not, every school requires a test to advance to the next grade.
"The wilderness is not a punishment but a preparation for the promises of God." - Christine Caine
So, as we navigate our personal deserts, let us not lose hope in adversity. Instead, let us embrace the goodness that lies within the wilderness, knowing that through our trials, we are being shaped into individuals who, in the words of James 1:2-4, are perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
By the way, I want to invite you to join me for my first-ever webinar, “How to Develop Healthy Rhythms: Creating A Rule of Life.” It’s free and will be broadcast on Friday, April 5 at 1:00 pm CDT. Click here to register even if you can’t attend live because you will receive a link to the recording.
