There comes a time in life for every follower of Jesus that they’re drawn into the wilderness. If you’re not sure what that is, it’s a season of refinement and renewal that often looks like no growth at all. If you’ve been feeling stuck in your spiritual journey, you may be in the wilderness.
I’ve been in the wilderness for the past couple years and I’m finally sensing a change in seasons. It’s got me thinking, though, how I can turn around and encourage those who are maybe just entering? This experience has been challenging but also transformative, and I believe there’s much good to be found in wilderness seasons.
But you can only discover the hidden goodness of this place if you’re aware that you’re there. So here are some telltale signs of the wilderness season:
Old ways of connecting with God aren’t working.
The things you used to do to connect with God feel dry and mechanical, not life-giving. You’ve become bored of the familiar ways you engage with spiritual disciplines like prayer, reading the Bible and going to church.
Not only are these things not as interesting anymore, but they’re also not fruitful. God is relational, and just like any relationship there needs to be variety to build lasting connection. When you start to notice that these practices that once gave you life are feeling stale, it’s time to explore new ways of approaching them.
God wants us to continually fall deeper in love with him and enjoy spending time with him. The wilderness can be part of how he helps reawaken that passion again.
You’re not sure you believe what you used to.
Your journey into the wilderness can often be sparked by difficult circumstances and situations that shake you up. What’s happening around you doesn’t align with what you believed about God and yourself.
The wilderness is disorienting at first as certain held beliefs become open for conversation or are revealed to not be as solid as you thought. This isn’t by accident, though. God uses the wilderness to help us release false perceptions of who we are and who he is. Letting go of these beliefs can be a difficult process, but it’s done with our best interest in mind so we’re prepared for what comes next.
You feel lost and confused about your purpose.
If you take an honest look at your life, perhaps things haven’t been going the way you expected. Maybe you feel like you keep slamming into closed doors hoping for different results. This stagnation has got you wondering if you’re on the right path.
There are so many reasons why our hopes and expectations don’t end up matching reality, but at times it’s clear God has an intention. Entering the wilderness is an opportunity to clarify your identity and purpose. When you start to turn to God in your frustration and desperation instead of away form him, he’ll start to reveal new direction to you.
Nothing is growing or fruitful in your life.
You’ve been working and hustling but there isn’t much to show for it. In fact, it seems more is being removed or taken away from you. Sometimes you can get so caught up in striving and pushing forward that you lose sight of what God has in mind.
The wilderness is a place of refinement and realignment, where some things may have to be released or reduced in order to grow in the next season. It’s a humbling but freeing experience that’s for your ultimate good.
God is silent.
In all of this, you’re turning to God and asking for direction, but it feels like he’s on mute. You can’t tell if you’re not hearing clearly or if he’s giving you the silent treatment (spoiler…he’s not).
God draws us into the wilderness to be with him. When distractions and outward movement are halted, there’s room then to better hear God’s voice. At first you may not recognize it, but the closer you get the clearer it becomes. He allows this to happen because he understands how much we need to discern is voice in order to accomplish what he has for us.
If you resonate with any of these signs and sense you’re in the wilderness, know that you’re in the exact place God wants you right now.
And 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 Ivana Cajina.
