Living in this Time of Wilderness

Scripture: Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted there by Satan. For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. Matthew 4:1-2

Observation: The temptation of Jesus involves three temptation. However, before those three brief conversations ever occur, Jesus goes through 40 days of hardship. This is certainly a time where Jesus is being given over to a bad event in his life. It isn't that a man couldn't have found something to eat in the "wilderness" - a plant or small animal of some kind - yet Jesus goes this entire period without food.

In other words, this is a supernatural hardship. It does not make sense within the context of simply known facts. For some reason, Jesus can't find food, and also can't (or won't) just walk away and leave. Jesus is in a bad place, and for unknown reasons he is locked into that problematic situation, and is about to be confronted with temptations as his only way out of the predicament.

Application: God is in control of even our worst circumstances ... those that even appear to have their way out prevented by uncontrollable powers. Most of us are in such a time as this. I feel I am in a situation I absolutely cannot just leave, because there is a totally unmanageable condition preventing any return to "normal life." I can choose what I do next.

I can descend into a desperate need for escape, but this rejects the evidence that this entire situation is supernatural, and thus under the full control of the Lord. To whine about the pandemic and pursue (impossible) escape is to reject the idea that the Lord has a plan in the works, and that I should be seeking alignment to that plan.

I can allow satan to tempt me with ways of finding earthly opportunities within the pandemic. Many of done this ... leveraged fear mongering to find fame, created scams to achieve profit. I have allowed my mind to race in negative ways, which is falling for the temptation of escaping mentally from the Lord's plan, and on this point I need to improve.

Finally, I can trust the Lord to just guide me. In this, I can meditate on his word, seek the voice of the Holy Spirit, and live my daily life awaiting direction. Following this path, the daily activity looks very bland, however the outcome promises to be amazing opportunity to walk with the Lord.

Everyone - myself included - is in a wilderness right now. Some are succumbing to desperation and/or temptation. I must instead trust in the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I am in a wilderness right now, but I know that you too are here with me. Please deliver me from desperation and sadness and anger that comes from a loss of control. Please deliver me from the temptations of the evil one who knows too well how to attack me. And instead, please sit with me and help me discover new truths, new love, and new ways to serve others for your glory. Amen.