The wilderness season is a time of waiting in the unknown while following God to some place new. A few years ago I realized I was in a wilderness season. Opportunities withered, circumstances changed, and I started to wrestle with the purpose and reason for it all.
Maybe you’re experiencing this kind of season too. The wilderness is a confusing and disorienting place to be. And there are thoughts that can make us feel even more hopeless and isolated if we begin to agree with them.
There are a few things I don't say anymore about the wilderness season. I used to believe them, but as I studied biblical patterns of renewal, Jesus started turning these lies on their heads.
I want to share the antidotes to these common lies about the wilderness season to help you avoid unnecessary delays in your journey. And hopefully you can replace them with truth that brings peace and hope to whatever you're going through.
Three of the most common lies about the wilderness season are:
Lie: I'm here because I messed up.
Truth: I'm here to draw closer to Jesus.
You often unknowingly enter the wilderness season. Everything's all fine and good until things start not working out the way you hoped for. The wilderness tends to sneak up on you, whether you suffer an unexpected loss, burn out from trying to force desired outcomes, or just feel dry and spiritually disconnected. Suddenly you realize something isn't right, and the next thought is probably, "I did something wrong."
We may never fully understand what causes the wilderness season, but there's one thing for sure: the wilderness isn't punishment. Read the Bible and you'll see many faithful followers end up in the wilderness, from Moses to David and even Jesus. God leads you to the wilderness because he wants you there. Why? So you can get to know him better, trust him deeper, and follow him closer. It may seem strange but it's intentional, and ultimately for your good.
Lie: This is a wasted season.
Truth: This is a season of preparation.
When you're waiting on God, it can feel like all there is to do is twiddle your thumbs and try not to give up hope. The wilderness season often comes with a lot of stripping back of what life used to look like. And this can leave with you with more spare time than you're used to.
If your life doesn't look very "productive" from the outside right now, maybe it's time to shift your perspective. What if Jesus is inviting you to focus on the heart work needed for the next season? There's spiritual growth hidden in the wilderness season that's essential to being fruitful in whatever comes next. As I started to embrace the slow, quiet moments in God's presence, I began to experience healing and freedom like never before. It became clear that this season was indeed not wasted.
Lie: Nothing good can grow here.
Truth: The desert will rejoice and blossom.
Think of a desert and you probably don't imagine it overflowing with vegetation and life. It definitely seems more like an environment where things wither and die. During the wilderness season, your life may not look like a vibrant springtime garden at all. You'll start to question if anything good can grow again.
The crazy thing about Jesus, though, is that he wants to become your source of renewing life. Part of the beauty of the wilderness season is the deeper understanding of this reality that comes from first-hand experience. One day God led me to a verse that changed my view of the wilderness season: "The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom" (Isa 35:1). It made me realize that renewal is at the heart of the wilderness and I had a front row seat to watch the desert bloom.
Once I understood the purpose of the wilderness, my perspective shifted. Yes the wilderness was still confusing and uncomfortable, but I knew it was intentional and ultimately for my good.
If you’re in the wilderness season right now, it may be helpful to examine what kinds of thoughts you have about it. They can either turn you towards hope or despair. If you choose to see Jesus’s heart for you in this season, you may just start to see that even in the desert the flowers bloom.
Blessings,
Hayley
If you're looking for a way to process your wilderness season experience, I created some free journal prompts to help you find clarity. Click here to download.
Photo by Sindy Süßengut on Unsplash
