‘Into the wilderness’—comfort for us in the way God used Jesus

By Dean Collins

Walking in and through the wilderness is a common experience for kingdom citizens.

How often have you experienced a blessing, maybe a promotion or some congratulations, only to find yourself suddenly in a difficult situation? If you have, then you are in good company. It happened to Jesus.

It was shortly after Jesus heard his Father’s voice from Heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” that the Spirit led Jesus in the wilderness. I think my first temptation in the wilderness would have been to complain about God’s timing and ask him whether the wilderness was really necessary. But we don’t have any indication that Jesus complained about his wilderness experience. Maybe we would do better in our wilderness experiences if we gave up griping about them.

Into the wilderness

I have looked at the temptations of Jesus recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Several times I have tried to determine if I was reading them correctly. I find myself far more comfortable with the Holy Spirit leading Jesus through the wilderness than leading Jesus into the wilderness. But the Scripture suggests both.

Of course, we all have tendencies to understand or interpret Scripture from our preferences. And like you, I would prefer to think that God would not lead me into hard times. I just want him to get me out of hard times! But what if the Spirit does lead us into wilderness experiences just as he did in this instance with Jesus? We are comforted when the Scripture says Jesus was tempted in the same ways we are tempted. But are we comfortable with the idea that God allows us to have the same pains and even sufferings that Jesus had during his time on earth?

The truth is that the Spirit did lead Jesus both into the wilderness and through the wilderness. Jesus did experience hunger and physical weakness during his season of suffering and confrontation with the enemy of God. And he came through the wilderness experience with spiritual strength and focus so that he could and did complete his mission for our benefit and the glory of God.

Through the mission

What if we go through our wilderness experiences for the same purpose? I may not like the suffering I experience as a Christian, but I find myself comforted to consider that if I am obedient in the wilderness, it not only strengthens me; it might help someone else get through their mission as well.

Throughout the whole Bible, we see God leading his children through the wilderness of our world broken by our sin. Consider Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, the prophets, and the apostles. The Scriptures are filled with examples of God’s presence and guidance into and through their wilderness experiences.

Seasons of difficulty

Hebrews 11 reminds us of the Bible heroes who faithfully endured suffering and hardship yet remained obedient to God. And in Chapter 12, these saints are called a great cloud of witnesses that cheer us on to obedience as well.

Then the writer of Hebrews reminds us that our privilege as children of God means we will have seasons of difficulty just as Jesus did. And when we walk through our suffering and wilderness experience, we become more and more like Jesus. And the more we are like Jesus, the more God can use us to extend his kingdom and usher in his final renewal and restoration of all things.

Father, forgive us for our complaining about our hard times. Today we choose gratitude for how you are leading us both into and through our hard times. Strengthen our shaking knees and give us resolve to trust you in all things and at all times, because we know you are, in fact, working all things together for the good that always comes from our obedience to you. May our obedience bring encouragement to another follower of Christ today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭22; 4‬:‭1‬, ‭14‬-‭15; Deuteronomy‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬-‭3; ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭19;‬‬ ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭14‬-‭16‬, ‭39‬-‭40; 12‬:‭1‬-‭7‬, ‭11‬-‭13 ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Mumemories at istockphoto.com
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