“John wore a clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.” (Mark 1:6 NIV)
My flesh took a tough note this morning; John the Baptist was sustained by the very things that frighten me: bees and bugs. Instead of my instinct to close the book, I lean in… “What do you want me to learn in Honey Hollow, Lord?” I wonder, what is He accomplishing here? Is this season about fearless obedience? Is it about trust in the face of feral animals? Is He convincing me that He is Lord of all, even the boars and snakes and opossums and rumored wildcats?
I read a little farther and find Jesus in the wilderness, also.
“At once the Spirit sent him out int o the wilderness, and He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended to Him.” (Mark 1:3 NIV)
I’ve thought about Jesus in the Negev at least a hundred of times before today, but never had I noticed the part about about the beasts. Jesus, too, lived amidst what I would consider to be frightful circumstances.
Sometimes God sends His beloved children to fearful places. Why?
I can come up with a myriad of reasons. Character development. Total reliance on spirit over flesh. Learning to hold life loosely and God tightly. Increased awe and understanding of the natural world and thus the Creator of all. Death to self (comfort and cleanliness). Concentration in purpose.
God seems to accomplish something spectacular in wilderness situations. In previous seasons, I’ve wandered through spiritual wilderness. Yet this season, the wilderness is physical. I consider scripture and realize I am not alone in my foray into the unknown. Adam and Eve; driven from the garden. Abram; sent out of Ur. Hagar, cast out from her tent. Moses’ flight into Midian. The children of Israel making their way toward promised land. David hiding in caves from an angry King. Jesus, led by the Spirit into the hot and dry desert. Maybe the actual wilderness is where we become who we are called to be, where we are invited to step into the fullness of all that God has for us and where we learn to trust Him entirely? Perhaps it’s where we discover Him to be our provision, protection and refuge?
I finish up my Bible study but cannot lay aside today’s truth.
The wilderness accomplishes something Kingdom every time.
I’ve been through spiritual wilderness before, but the woods of South Texas (at least for me) are an actual physical wilderness. I am embarrassed by my continued struggle with the creepy crawlies and critters. We’ve lived in the woods more than a month now and I’m still in a daily battle with my flesh. There are aspects of country life that I love: the epic sunsets and the owls that swoop over the lawn, the deep sense of peace punctuated by screeching cicadas and woodpeckers hard at work. My heart is wooed by the towering trees and life bursting from every branch and bush. But there are still pieces I’m struggling against: the isolation, the lack of internet, the poor cell service, the constant fear of snakes and scorpions, the daily onslaught of bugs – inside and out. We should buy stock in after-bite and deep-woods Off, we’ve used so much. Yesterday I found a cicada in my kitchen and it wasn’t at all abnormal.
“Who is this coming up form the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?” (Song of Solomon 8:5 NIV)
This morning it is clear, I am going to walk through this physical wilderness just the same way as I have every spiritual wilderness season prior; leaning on my Beloved. The Lord alone will show me how to thrive in rural Texas. He’ll lead me through and teach my fear to shrink and shrivel away into nothing. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness and the Spirit has led me into the wilderness. I can trust Him to sustain me. I already know I am not an orphan, I’m a daughter of the King and He cares for His children.
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of the God.” (Romans 8:14 NIV)
“And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you travels there the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now He has brought you to this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:31 NIV)
God orders our steps. It is one of the theological truths that I am absolutely convinced of. If He’s brought me here, He’ll sustain me, too.
I wonder, where do you find yourself today? Is it a place of discomfort? Are you being stretched? Are you scared? May I remind you, and myself, that God has us where He has us with great purpose. He is accomplishing something Kingdom in this season, we need only cooperate.
Lord, help us to live willing in the wilderness; spiritual and physical alike. Deal with our fear. Strengthen us by Your Spirit. Send angels to tend to our needs as You did for Your Son. We know we grow or die here in this stretch. Make us more into Your image, transform us into the very best version You’ve created us to be. Give us guts and gumption. Help us see You when everything else seems to be shrinking back. Let us trust Your process completely. Amen.