The wilderness in the Bible speaks of a place of lack, of barrenness. A place of hardship and harsh conditions. A place where there is nothing.

It is really a place where you naturally speaking wouldn’t want to be. Yet as you obey and follow God, He could well lead you there.

A little over a year ago, I gave up my business to follow God in ministry. I expected the journey ahead to be a bed of roses, of provision and care coming from God, but instead my experience turned into a wilderness. A place of lack and of financial struggles. But in the midst of the stress and confusion, I knew deep down that He had led me to this place. It wasn’t my idea, it was His.

And it was right here, in the wilderness, that God began to speak to me. I began to see Him in a new light, and personally began to see His faithfulness in providing my every need as well as the needs of my family. When there was nothing and no-one else to rely on, He always showed up. And today I am so grateful for this wilderness journey, because in it, I have come to know Him more.

Many are afraid of the wilderness, afraid of what would happen if they follow God into it. May I encourage you not to be afraid, but to take hold of His hand and allow Him to lead you where He wants to go. Yes the wilderness journey ahead will not always be easy, but in this place of stripping back of everything and everyone else in your life, in this place of seeming lack and despair, it is here that you will find Him in a new and powerful way. Because it is in the wilderness that God speaks….