If there's one thing I've learned over the past few years, it is when you reach that "great place with God" watch out for the wilderness. It's coming. For some it's out of the blue - WHAM! For others, it just sneaks in the back door; quietly undetected. I'd say mine has been somewhere in between.
During this time, I'm comforted by reading what the Israelites experienced in their wilderness. I'm no theologian, but I noticed a couple of things:
- God protected the Israelites by taking them the long route. I tend to complain unless the long route was by my choice...usually that happens on vacation, just to simply take in a view or even to admire one of my favorite places on the way home. The Israelites were purposely led the long route. They didn't have an itinerary or schedule to follow. They just followed. But the purpose was to protect them (Ex 13).
- God never allowed the Israelites to starve. He more than provides for them, however, faith, trust and obedience was required. Faith that God's taking care of their needs. Trust that tomorrow God's going to provide again, and Obedience to just do what He says.
- Moses spent 40 years in the desert and not a moment was wasted. Now, I'm almost 40, and I cannot imagine being in the wilderness that long. 40 years. 40 LOOOOOONG YEARS. Wow, what faith Moses required! Or maybe acquired... God spent the 40 years preparing him, teaching him, guiding him. And during those 40 years, God never left them alone (Ex 40:38). He was there with Moses and the Israelites day and night.
- The wilderness usually follows a time of peace. As I'm reminded of my previous season, I felt on top of the world. When I began to feel the desert knocking at my door, I kept thinking "What did I do wrong? Did I walk away from God?" Certain that I must have committed some huge sin, I came to realize that maybe, just maybe, it was a designed time with God. I had gotten my routine down and had reached a sort of high in my life. I realize that in the peace-filled, sitting at God's feet moments, He was simply preparing me for the wilderness that was before me.
- While in the wilderness, God's steadily teaching me. When I listen and get quiet before the Lord, He's speaks to me like never before. He recently gave me a flock of sparrow on my patio right after reading Matt 10:31. Unbelievable! Moses experienced the Burning Bush (Ex 3), the Israelites were led by a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Ex 13), the many angels bearing messages in the Bible (too many to note), and my favorite Wilderness Explorer "Job"...now that guy walked in trials, but by the time he was healed and restored (in his own words speaking of the Lord) Job said ""I had heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes." (Job 42:5) Without the wilderness, Job might not have gotten to that level with God. I want to see God like that. God uses the wilderness to mold and shape us.
- No miracle ever happened without a great need, and don't doubt for a minute that this great need wasn't some person's wilderness. Miracles can be big and small but there is one common factor: a need bigger than the person's capability. In the words of Priscilla Schirer "You can't see miracles unless there is an impossible situation you can't figure out for yourself." If one can figure it out, how is that a miracle? I want to see miracles. I guess I need to ask myself "Am I willing to take the path to get there?"
So if you find yourself in the wilderness, look at it with anticipation. God's about to do something big in your life. His time, His way, His miracle. We just get a front row seat to the action. So pull up a chair, grab some popcorn, and keep your eyes open. You never know when it's gonna happen, but I assure you it's worth the wait!
"God comes in our ordinary moments suddenly, unexpectedly and often inconveniently. BUT if we are prepared, that moment can become the catalyst that changes our lives, and potentially the course of history."
-chris caine
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