Wilderness Journeys
- Dava Caballero
- Jul 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 19
Why does God lead us to dry, destitute, desert places? Well, from my experience, the short answer is this. He leads us to wastelands because it is only there that He is able to reveal to us His personal, divine, miraculous love and provision.
In desert places, the springs of living water cannot be attributed to any other source. Like the Israelites who received water from the Rock, God knows He must make it incomparably obvious to us that He is our source and strength. (Exodus 17:1-7)
Unfortunately, desert places do tend to bring out the worst in us. We fuss. We complain. We lose sight of the promised land – just as the Israelites did when they journeyed out of Egypt. They had cried out to God to deliver them from slavery, but then were blind to the way of redemption when it included affliction.
What if we changed our perspective? What if instead of crying, whining, wringing our hands, we realized that God directs us to dry places in order to reveal to us His glory? What if He draws us to desert places as a method of refining the impurities out of our wretchedly selfish lives?
This idea obviously differs completely from the worldly view of success: wealth, recognition, power, influence. But God’s ways are different! Jesus gifted us, through the Holy Spirit, the insight that we, as Christ followers, need to see through the Kingdom-of-Heaven lens. Wilderness places provide insight and discernment if we pay attention. Thankfully, in the kingdom of heaven there is no lack and no sorrow or pain too devastating for our Heavenly Father to handle.
Yes, afflictions overtake us during some seasons. But our discomfort during these times only teaches us more about Him – if we let it! When we bear down and white knuckle it through our afflictions with gritted teeth and stony hearts, revelation can take a torturously long time - like the Israelites whose disbelief won them 40 more years of wandering. Let's not take so long! When we quickly surrender to the Father’s embrace, practice gratitude, and look faithfully forward to the promised land of plenty, He lifts our heavy hearts. He reveals himself as Provider. We set our faces like flint, run the race in peace and with the power and authority of our great King. (Isaiah 50:7, Hebrews 12:1-3)
Here’s the crux of the matter. The desert can indeed feel lonely, and the scarcity of provision may easily lead to feelings of despair. So, even though I know the living Word of God will sustain me in feast or famine, how do I practically walk out this truth? It’s the old ”easier said than done” scenario. Although my mind and spirit agree that He will sustain me, my body requires literal meat and drink. Where’s the manna? I don’t want to complain like the Israelites, so how do I walk with a surrendered and thankful heart? How do I access the manna and the water from the rock? Let’s look at the One who did it perfectly.
Isaiah prophesied that Jesus “was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.”(Isaiah 53:3) Jesus also spent time in the desert: 40 days and nights without food, to be exact! (Luke 4:2)
The number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation.
I’ve often wondered how he passed the time there. Mark 1:13 says, “He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” That leaves out a lot of juicy details! Did he spend a lot of time thinking, frolicking, enjoying the quiet? Did he ever pine away in desperate frustration and horrid starvation? Only God knows. So, during quiet time with the Father one morning, I decided to audaciously ask him. (Did you know you can do that? You can ask your Maker, the Lover of your soul a question and expect an answer! It’s a marvelous thing.) He did not disappoint. These are the Spirit-led thoughts I wrote down.
In the desert wilderness Jesus:
-Quieted himself in the light of the Father’s love
-Distanced himself from the noise of humanity
-Communed with the Father and the Spirit
-Experienced Psalm 23
-Laid his life down
-Surrendered himself into the arms of the Father and let peace envelope him
-Settled in his mind who he was – solidified his identity
Jesus began his wilderness journey right after John baptized him and the Spirit descended on him “like a dove.” He had not yet begun to walk fully in his anointing. John the baptizer – the “voice crying in the wilderness. . . preparing the way of the LORD”- actually lived full time in the Judean wilderness. (Mark 1:1-13) Perhaps the Spirit passed the baton to Jesus in this desert area much like Moses passed the leadership on to Joshua. Quite clear, don’t you think? The desert prepared Jesus to walk completely in his anointing and to walk boldly into God’s Kingdom plan for our salvation.
The Messiah directed believers to watch and wait. (Luke 12:37) Shall we comply with the maturity of an impatient toddler - whining, fussing, throwing fits when we have to wait? Or shall we behave like a “weaned child” – patiently waiting as we look to Him for sustenance because we know that our Father has it all in control? (Psalm 131:2) The good news is this: we CAN wait, expecting joy and provision, even in the dry desert. How do I know this? Because He has proven himself faithful and He promises to help us. (Isaiah 41:10)
During a recent visit to my hometown in the desert region of South Texas, I was amazed at the strikingly green landscape. The Spring rains don’t do much for its hot, dry climate. Summer comes early and wildlife must eat cactus and the like to sustain themselves. But at this late springtime encounter, everything was still blooming! Purple sage, Huisache trees heavy with their fire-yellow flowers, vibrant red prickly pear blooms. There is beauty to behold even in the dry places.
He WILL bring us to a place of milk and honey; and He WILL show us miraculous provision all along the way. He will make a way in the wilderness. (Isaiah 43:19)
