I’ve spent some time in the wilderness lately, wandering aimlessly as I wonder why God isn’t paving the road more smoothly. And I’ve had more than one Israelite moment as I’ve complained to God, “Why are you doing this? Why are you letting us suffer so much? Why is this taking so long?”
I’m realizing, though, that like the Israelites, I’m so distracted by my suffering and doubts that I can’t see the bigger picture.
Take Jesus’ baptism, for instance. After John baptizes him in the Jordan River and the Spirit descends like a dove, the Bible says this:
Jesus was led by God toward suffering and temptation, toward a period of loneliness and vulnerability.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)
I get the fact that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness fending off the devil’s lure. But until recently, I hadn’t considered one important detail in that verse: that he was led into the wilderness
by the Holy Spirit.Jesus was led by God toward suffering and temptation, toward a period of loneliness and vulnerability.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus just moments after his baptism. Likewise, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that soon after that, the Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness. The timing is not a fluke. God went to be with his son while he endured suffering and temptation, and God comes to be with me, too, as I endure the trials of life.
I’m not suggesting that God causes suffering to teach me a lesson. But I do believe that God leads me by the hand through life’s obstacles, always with me, never forsaking me.
God didn’t abandon Jesus in the desert. And he doesn’t abandon me. The Holy Spirit may lead me into the wilderness, but he will also lead me out the other side.
{A repost from the archives as we make our way back from Minnesota this weekend}
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Wow – – suffering was the theme of our Pastors message today and my post is gleaning from his sermon. It is interesting that Jesus went through those 40 days in the wilderness prior to being fed by the Holy Spirit. He blindly trusted in His Father God. I hope you like the poem at the end that was not part of his sermon, just one I like, by Anne Johnson Flint.
Trust my friend Michelle to be able to do a post on suffering that doesn't leave me sad and fearful, and instead leaves me trusting and encouraged. That is NOT an easy thing to do Michelle. This is where you won me, “I’m not suggesting that God causes suffering to teach me a lesson. But I do believe that God leads me by the hand through life’s obstacles, always with me, never forsaking me.
God didn’t abandon Jesus in the desert. And he doesn’t abandon me. The Holy Spirit may lead me into the wilderness, but he will also lead me out the other side.”
You have said this so beautifully, it simply cannot be improved upon–thank you so much for reposting this! It's going in my “Great Quotes” file!!
Wow, Michelle. This might be a post from the archives, but we were on the same page today!
Praying for you. 🙂
“Why is this taking so long?”
I'm asking that too, Michelle. I get myself all distracted. I'd rather focus instead on what you're saying: God is leading me through this.
Praying for your family as you walk through grief again so soon…
What a beautiful post and photo. I have been asking that same question a lot. Especially after learnng of my sons diagnosis. Thanks for sharing and reminding me to look at the big picture.
I'm praying that you feel His thick coverings of grace and mercy as you grieve. I love your words here — they are especially poignant and easily grasped by those suffering.
“he was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit”
Very astute observation, Michelle…and very true!
Based on my experiences, God seems to have a very single-minded focus, to draw me closer to Him and to mold my heart in conformance to His image. Even when I am distracted by other issues of life, He remains faithful to these two primary goals for my life. And He uses all of life's circumstances as a tool toward attaining these objectives.
I pray that The Holy Spirit will continue His good work in your life, through this time of sorrow, and beyond.
Thank you, Joe. Love this: “He uses ALL life's circumstances as a tool toward attaining these objectives.” Yes!
Thank you so much for your prayers, Jen. Now that the funeral is over, we are moving into the healing phase and looking forward to spring and His hope.
And thank you for stopping by, Sarah.
God leading — that';s the key, isn't it?
Thank you so much for the prayers, Lisa. Feeling your love from afar!
Thank you lovely friend.
One of Scripture's most interesting passages! Here's an interesting way of considering this passage: after Jesus is announced as God's Son, and the trinity is present at that baptism, Satan (who is not omniscient, and has not known that this Jesus is God's Son) hears about this from one of his minions (b/c he's not omni-present either, and wasn't there at the baptism). He finds Jesus, in order to test Him. Not to test Him to make Him fail (b/c He can't fail), but to test Him to see exactly who He is. This perspective makes you read the whole thing in a different, fascinating light. Just a thought.
And you said, “I’m not suggesting that God causes suffering to teach me a lesson.” Ps. 199:75 says, “In faithfulness You have afflicted me.” Plenty of Scripture indicates that God does indeed afflict us, for various reasons. With the blind man, Jesus says it was done so God could be glorified. With Job, it was so that God could use Job as an object lesson to Satan. “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word,” the psalmist says in 119. “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” Just a thought. Personally, I do believe that absolutely everything that happens to me is from God's hand. It's a solace so often 🙂
I think Lent is a season of being led in the wilderness, to hear Him more clearly, cling more intimately. Praying as you re-enter your life after loss. Love the way you write Michelle, so concise and honest.
Wow, Shaunie – thank you so much for these kind words this morning!
I'll check out that poem today, Hazel – thank you for linking up!
I don't think God causes suffering but He allows it and is , indeed, there every step of the way. I look at the last two years of my life: the hardest yet. I know God has allowed me to go through so much because it has made me a more humble, sympathetic, and stronger person and has also put me in a position where I can minister so much more effectively. Honestly, I'd rather some of the issues be over, wish He was done working on me. But it is not all about me and part of my suffering is waiting while He works on others. And…that is another subject!
Mark uses the same word as cast out–like when Jesus cast out demons. That's a lot of power. Like being pushed and led at the same time.
Those wilderness experiences, how I wrestle against them. But, I know that they are what God has used to teach me that I'm really not all that. He loves me enough to lead me into and through the wilderness to show me how desperately I need him.
Praying for God's comfort and peace, friend.
Ah, that pesky wilderness. When it is done, I can see that it was good … but not usually in the midst of it.
Safe journey home, Michelle.
Fondly,
Glenda
After a great spiritual victory, satan targets us, and we often find ourselves in the wilderness, like Elijah who witnessed God's awesome power and then fled for his life. But God uses these times to strengthen our faith and our dependence on Him, and to give us compassion and experience for those going through similar trials.
Laurie Collett, Saved by Grace
http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/
MD,
First off, I love reposts. Why should we bury good stuff? Good job you.
Second, thanks for hosting this par-ta. Good job you, again.
A pastor friend of mine told me once that everything is Father filtered, meaning everything that happens in our lives is either allowed or brought about by God. In Job, we see that Satan has to get permission from God to mess with Job and God sets limits on what Satan can do. Those walks through the wilderness bring about the most profound spiritual growth. Praying that for you!
I read through this same passage for Sunday, and watched a video from Mark Hart about this passage as well. He focused on the same thing as you — Christ was LED by the Holy Spirit — and went willingly.
I try to suffer graciously — but, it is SO HARD for me. I'm sure I'm supposed to be learning something, but I'm missing the big picture.
Thanks so much for your wonderful linkup!
He leads me beside still waters and delivers my soul — sometimes it takes a journey through the wilderness to get there…
I am so thankful Jesus willingly followed the Holy Spirit to go to that depth of temptation, how he trusted the Father and the truth of Scripture – there is so much leading by example in the life of Christ for us to learn from.
Wow, Michelle!
I read your post and thought is was one I wrote a while back called The 4 Essentials Needed When You're in the Wilderness. It was uncanny to read your words because they sounded so much like mine! Perhaps a kindred spirit? 🙂
Blessings to you!
~jolene
Ps.84 is my hope in the wilderness.
This is my first time to link. The passage in Matt. 25 about The Judgment needed some meditating on after church ended … so that's what I did and I wrote about what God showed me. Thanks of the link up. Hopefully I will learn on Sunday again and be able to share here 🙂
So glad you linked up today, Dea — welcome to the community! I look forward to hopping over to your place soon to meet you there and read your post.
The refiner's fire. I'm so thankful he walks through the fire with us.
We talked about this on Sunday, and focused on the difference between tempting and testing. God never tempts us, but he does test us. And the goal of the testing of our faith is always to draw us closer. What a blessing to have a God who cares about our growth, and is willing to walk with us each step of the way!
Thanks for the reminder that if we listen to the Spirit, He leads us. Even though sometimes the way is hard, God goes with us. First time to link up.
I am so loving these photographs…