A Tender Wilderness
Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. Hosea 2:14
Don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of the wilderness. Pretty sure I've never prayed for God to lead me into a desert. Yet, when I read this verse, I had to scratch my head.
LEAD HER INTO THE WILDERNESS so that I CAN SPEAK TENDERLY TO HER
So, why can't You speak tenderly to me where I am? I'm listening God - or am I?
Let's think back over the course of our spiritual journey. When are we seeking, listening, growing the most? Undoubtedly when we're facing the moments that we did not sign up for - the times when it seems we're all alone!
Weary
Intense
Lonely
Dark
Engulfing
Relentless
Not necessary
Exhausting
Senseless
Suffering
<= Wilderness from my Viewpoint
Wilderness from God's Viewpoint =>
Worship
Important
Life-changing
Deepen
Essential
Restorative
Nurturing
Equip
Sacred
Sanctification
The last 18 - 24 months has been a wilderness journey - a time of questioning, wrestling, pouring out my heart, leaning hard into God's Word.
It all began with my trip to Asbury University with a dear friend during the revival that was taking place in February 2023.
God was present in that place and I'll never forget my time in that little white chapel on the corner.
I remember one particular morning, my Name of God for that day was Elohim Shama, the God Who hears. As I'm reading the verses, I started literally yelling/screaming at God, NO, YOU DON'T HEAR! YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO MY PRAYERS!
Even as I'm yelling at Him, I never felt His anger, His disappointment, His leaving. He was still there, not condemning, but loving me, holding me, listening . . .
In August of 2023 I started reading Lamentations. And when I got to chapter 3, how I poured over those words for two solid weeks. There were mornings I couldn't read more than a couple of verses as my soul wrestled.
- He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light
- He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship
- He has weighed me down with chains
I wept over verses 1 - 20 of chapter 3 crying out, "God, this is where I am".
My friends, here's what I'm learning:
- The wilderness has to happen for growth - you see it's here where all distractions are removed and it's only you and God.
- God NEVER leaves you alone in the wilderness! Mark 1:13 Deuteronomy 31:8 (with an emphasis on never)
- The wilderness is usually sandwiched between a holy moment and a purpose for which God is preparing you (Jesus was baptized, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness for 40 days, He began His earthly ministry in the power of the Spirit Luke 4:14)
Our wilderness journey's true purpose is to bring our hearts to these words:
You, God are the air that I breathe, Your Holy Presence living in me
You are my daily bread, Your very words spoken to me
I'm desperate for You
God, I'm lost without You
May we stop trying to run from the wilderness and instead rest in the Father's arms as He speaks tenderly to our aching hearts.
In the wilderness God is not punishing you, He's preparing you ~
So true!