Joy in the Wilderness
Chances are, you are currently “in the wilderness” in some area of life. Maybe it’s your finances, your marriage, relationship with your kid, or a spiritual dearth. Maybe you languish in recovering from a deep wound. God wants you to know that he does his best work in your wilderness, because that’s where he connects with you and shows his redemptive ways!
There's no substitute for basking in the Word of God as you ask the Holy Spirit to make it come alive for you. As you read, ask the Lord, "What does this mean for me at this time? What do you want me to know?" Let these comforting scripture passages sink deeply into your heart.
A New Thing
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” ~ Is. 43:19
God uses our “wilderness” to facilitate necessary endings (losses) and create something new for us. One translation renders this phrase, “you can’t perceive it”, because we have a very limited view of God's unlimited capabilities (Is. 55:8-9). Our “wilderness” connotes a barren wasteland, or a baffling, uninhabited forest with no view to a pathway out, and the absence of life-giving water. It is here that God meets us in our misery, and it is here that we are more inclined to receive his help. He makes a way forward (John 14:6, 1 Cor. 10:13) and provides the sustenance we need (John 4:14, 2 Pet. 1:3). Truly, to be healthy in spirit makes for a better reality in all areas of life!
Ransomed Joy
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.” ~ Is. 35:1-2b
God uses our “wilderness” to encourage us to turn to him for blessing. Not only have we been ransacked by enemies, we are easily captivated by distractions and fruitless paths. He graciously uses our suffering to invite us into his goodness. The context for this passage in Isaiah is God bringing his people back into their homeland after exile. Interestingly, the author spins the metaphorical “wilderness” to a place of lush provision:
“ . . .Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God. He will come and save you . . . For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water . . .” ~ from Is. 35:4-7.
Straightened Paths
God uses our “wilderness” for our good and his glory by making us better than we were before, and conforming us into the image of Christ. We develop awareness of his ways, and consequently, our suffering is transformed into a redemptive experience from which we emerge wiser and closer to our savior:
“And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.” ~ Is. 35:8
Hope for You
These passages were written first to God’s people in Israel; but because we serve the same God who never changes, we can claim these promises as our own. We are his children; he loves and cares for us! He meets us in our wilderness and desires to show us the path forward, providing our needs along the way. He is always at work doing a new thing in our wilderness––something we never could have expected, and always very good.
©2023 Julianne Knapp. First published 8.29.23
There's no substitute for basking in the Word of God as you ask the Holy Spirit to make it come alive for you. As you read, ask the Lord, "What does this mean for me at this time? What do you want me to know?" Let these comforting scripture passages sink deeply into your heart.
A New Thing
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” ~ Is. 43:19
God uses our “wilderness” to facilitate necessary endings (losses) and create something new for us. One translation renders this phrase, “you can’t perceive it”, because we have a very limited view of God's unlimited capabilities (Is. 55:8-9). Our “wilderness” connotes a barren wasteland, or a baffling, uninhabited forest with no view to a pathway out, and the absence of life-giving water. It is here that God meets us in our misery, and it is here that we are more inclined to receive his help. He makes a way forward (John 14:6, 1 Cor. 10:13) and provides the sustenance we need (John 4:14, 2 Pet. 1:3). Truly, to be healthy in spirit makes for a better reality in all areas of life!
Ransomed Joy
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.” ~ Is. 35:1-2b
God uses our “wilderness” to encourage us to turn to him for blessing. Not only have we been ransacked by enemies, we are easily captivated by distractions and fruitless paths. He graciously uses our suffering to invite us into his goodness. The context for this passage in Isaiah is God bringing his people back into their homeland after exile. Interestingly, the author spins the metaphorical “wilderness” to a place of lush provision:
“ . . .Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God. He will come and save you . . . For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water . . .” ~ from Is. 35:4-7.
Straightened Paths
God uses our “wilderness” for our good and his glory by making us better than we were before, and conforming us into the image of Christ. We develop awareness of his ways, and consequently, our suffering is transformed into a redemptive experience from which we emerge wiser and closer to our savior:
“And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.” ~ Is. 35:8
Hope for You
These passages were written first to God’s people in Israel; but because we serve the same God who never changes, we can claim these promises as our own. We are his children; he loves and cares for us! He meets us in our wilderness and desires to show us the path forward, providing our needs along the way. He is always at work doing a new thing in our wilderness––something we never could have expected, and always very good.
©2023 Julianne Knapp. First published 8.29.23