A wilderness can be described as an uncultivated,
uninhabited, and inhospitable region. Wilderness can be referred to as the wilds, wastes, desert, back country,
outback, the great outdoors; the boonies; the boondocks; a neglected or abandoned
area; a wasteland, no man's land or someplace far out of reach.
Wilderness implies that if you’re there, you’re in a
position of disfavor; you’re lost, disoriented, off track, indecisive, unstable, isolated, confused, ostracized, or you’re being punished.
We’ve all found ourselves, from time to time, in
what seems like an abandoned place. But what if there is purpose there? What if it is no accident or unfortunate twist of fate that you're having a wilderness experience? What if it is not bad luck at all? What if you haven't been kicked to the curb? What if it is a necessary thing designed to teach, motivate, strengthen, empower, emancipate, stretch, elevate, or discipline you?
We’ve all been at a crossroad and wondered which
way to go. We've all felt stuck and needed to know which way led to light, purpose, clarity, fresh air, new
beginnings, prosperity or freedom. The only way
we now know, is because we have, or someone else has been there. Someone else has taken the journey, and lived
to tell about. Whether it’s by our own experience, or that of someone else, we
learn valuable lessons in what to do, and what not to do.
The Bible teaches us that Jesus, himself, was tested and
tempted in the wilderness, and it was a place he willingly entered. The Spirit
of the Lord led him there (unlike Joseph in Genesis 37, whose brothers took him to the wilderness, threw him in a pit, and were going to kill him, but decided they could profit off of him, so they took him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver). Jesus obediently entered the wilderness, unlike the Children of Israel whose unfaithfulness was the reason they were led into the wilderness. But, notice what the Bible says in Deuteronomy, chapter 3, verse 7:
"For
the LORD your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has
known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years
the LORD your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing."
Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 2 says:
"You
shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the
wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to
know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or
not".
There weren't pages and pages devoted to the wilderness experience of Jesus, but there is so much to draw from it, and every biblical wilderness experience, particularly concerning what not to do.
1. Don't ever, ever think that God is not there, and resort to self-help born out of desperation, frustration, or anger.
2. Don’t let your physical condition overrule your
mental condition.
3. Don’t abandon what you know. Speak it. Don't doubt or reject what is tried and true.
4. Don’t surrender your authority to anyone who has
proven to be shady, opportunistic or irresponsible. Don’t fall for schemes.
5. Don't ever think that what you were delivered from is better than where you currently are or where God is taking you. Don't look backward.
6. Don’t neglect your feet. Don’t forget to cover them
and reinforce whatever covers the bottom. Don’t forget to watch where you step
and walk. If what’s on your feet is not conducive to the ground on which you
have to walk, and it’s making you unstable and prone to trip, fall, lose
strength, or not be able to walk and move forward at all, take them off.
7. Don’t lose your head. Don’t lose heart and don’t get
comfortable. Don’t start fantasizing about how workable, beautiful, or okay the
situation is. You are not there to stay. Help is present and on the way at the same time. Don't forget that.
8. Don’t forget the power of your hands. That doesn’t
mean you can touch and handle everything. If it looks shady or you know it’s
poisonous because you have encountered it before, don’t touch it. Keep it
moving.
9. Don’t abandon your sense of gratitude. Don't waste, or complain about resources. You may not
have what you want in the wilderness, but don’t forget the importance of what
you need. Don't complain about or turn your nose up at what can sustain you. It may not be ideal or top shelf but it serves a purpose. You may not be where you want to be surrounded by what you've grown accustomed to, and sometimes you're not even sure
how you got there, but you are on your way out. Remember you’re still alive,
and as long as you are, deliverance and victory are attainable. Be grateful.
10. Don’t eat everything you see. Some things look good
but are not edible. Some things are edible, but they may not agree with you.
11. Don’t listen to every voice. Don't trust everybody. Don't neglect to guard your ears and heart. When some people think
you’re sufficiently isolated, they think it’s a good time to get into your ear;
tell you things they think you ought to know; lie; gossip, cause division and discord. You know, things
that don’t edify at all or help you progress. They’ll tell you everything except how to get out
because they like to see you there. It
makes them feel better about themselves.
12. Don’t invite everyone you may encounter into your
space. Remember, if they are in the wilderness, too, they may not be a friend. Even
in the wilderness, you can and must create a safe place to rest, hide, store
whatever you need to sustain yourself and shield yourself from the elements.
Beware of those who simply want what they have AND the little that you have,
and have no problems making you feel they need what you have more than you do.
13. Don’t lose your sense of direction. The first time
you realize you’re going in circles, stop! Get your bearings about you. Don’t
get bogged down in complaining about the tree or rock you know you passed
fourteen times already. They’re not going anywhere! They are fixtures in the
wilderness. You are not. Stop passing those same rocks and trees and recognize
you need to do something different.
14. Don’t lose your creativity. You have skills! Hone,
and use them. Keep thinking clearly. Help yourself, don’t beat up on yourself.
Don’t forget that you can make tools. Just because the place you’re in doesn’t
seem to be refined, doesn’t mean it is a wasteland. Remember, every city and
highway used to be in a wilderness.
Someone either had the resources to make significant change and bring supplies
in, or they had the know-how to mine and tear down what was there.
15. Don’t panic. The more you fret and struggle, the faster you
will sink. Some situations are just not that deep, complicated or dangerous.
They just appear to be. Don’t let frustration or fear make you think you are
drowning or stuck. Stand up! Find something sure, solid and trustworthy to hold
on to and pull yourself up and out. You know what is sure--the Word of God.
16. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if it is
there. Don’t have a signal and then be too proud or embarrassed to use it.
17. Don’t
forget your strengths and your limitations. You can have faith and be realistic at the same time.
18. Don’t stop searching for water. Don’t forget that
even the dew drops—even the slightest bit of water-- can save you. Don’t forget
to catch it when it’s available.
19. Don't forget to think before you act. Know whether any move you make is helping you to reach your goal or setting you back.
20. Last of all, don’t think that you can’t celebrate and worship God right where you are. There is always something for which to be thankful. Lift your voice. Sing your song. You know the words: "I will bless the Lord at ALL times..."
When you find yourself on the other side of the wilderness, tell someone how God delivered you. Encourage hearts. They need to know that they are not forsaken or hopeless.
#JUSTKEEPGOING
@DEW4U
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