If there’s anything I’ve learned over the past eleven years of choosing Jesus, it’s that the desert and wilderness of my life is where I seek Him most. It’s where He meets me, if i’ll just slow down enough to seek and find Him. If i’ll step outside of my own pain and into Gods palpable presence to find true rest. First, you might be wondering, what does it mean to be in the “desert or wilderness”? Simply put, your lowest moment. When you have no one who can relate to exactly what you're going through. Which if we’re honest, is often. Because no one feels or goes through things the same way that you do. All of our human experiences are vastly different from one another. So often, those low moments are where God is waiting for us to grab ahold of Him! In the midst of our high moments in life, we might brush God off a little more. The devotions and reading of the Word starts to slip. Busy life distracts us, and we end up in a vicious cycle of trying to find the time and put God back in the top priority slot where He belongs. It’s all part of our humanity. The goal is to have less of the cycle, and more consistency in keeping our priorities balanced. Keeping God at the forefront of our minds, not just in the trenches of the wilderness, but in the high moments, too - with the same tenacity!
Through three miscarriages, a lot of family trauma, homelessness, addiction and more, I can truly say that He has delivered me from it all. However, it took full surrender on my part. That’s the catch of the whole journey we have with the Lord. That’s the key difference in every other man made religion in this world versus the relationship we can have with our creator. He waits for us, but He doesn’t force us. He wants our attention and time even more than we want His. And when we do finally come to Him in the pitch black of our wilderness, He doesn’t reprimand us or cold shoulder us. He offers a peace, joy and hope that can’t be put into words so that we can in turn, overflow with the fullness of life we were always created to have! (Romans 15:13).
I used to be so puzzled by hardship when I first became a Christian. Almost like a mini tantrum, I would cry out to God in the midst of my desert and be disheartened that “I was the only one” or play the “why me” game. I have never been one to play the victim, so why was I acting like the victim of the things that were happening to me? Let me be clear…sometimes you are a victim of an unfortunate circumstance and I am not here to minimize that. We need to grow in discernment to understand when we truly are a victim, or when something spiritual is happening around, or to us. After finally surrendering to Him and understanding that the fight is 100% spiritual several years ago, I now welcome hardship.
You might be like, whaaaat?! Yes! I said it. I welcome hardship! I’m not jumping up and down with excitement, but I have learned that God is in it, and that there’s a deeper connection with Him waiting on the other side. That brings me comfort, peace and trust that there’s purpose in that trial.
This is why we have to stay equipped in the Word! It’s our handbook to the issues of life! Here's some encouragement from the Word and proof that God has all the answers to our hardships:
First, we are promised trouble in this life, but God already has conquered this world victoriously, therefore the enemy has power over the world but not Gods people in it –
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

Second, we have authority over the enemy of this world and it’s important to speak life over yourself out loud. Our words are much more powerful over ourselves than we may think –
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19.
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Proverbs 18:21
Third, we can rest in knowing that suffering isn’t without a harvest of good things, perseverance, and a newfound strength afterwards!
“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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 1 Corinthians 12:9-10.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10.
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-12.
“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13.
Lastly I want to leave you with these comforting truths that God gives us that we can remind ourselves of in the midst of our suffering. He promises us that there is purpose to our pain and joy to come! –
“In the same way, I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:9.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” Psalm 34:17.
“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.” 1 Peter 1:6.
If we are deficit of the Lord in the trench of our trial, what is there to live for? Think about the lowest valley of your life. I bet you felt entirely hopeless. Maybe you’re there now. Shifting that focus to zoom out and know that the trial is temporary is everything. Your thoughts run your entire life. Will you trust that the one who created you, knows every thought you have and how many days you have on this earth (Psalm 139:16) has good for you beyond the pain? Let the wilderness refine you and strengthen you! Soon you’ll find your way out and when you do, will you still choose Him when it’s no longer dark? He’s still there, holding your every moment. Waiting to celebrate with you. Delighting in you. Singing over you. Enjoying seeing you prosper.
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.
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