I’ve left a season of isolation for a full-time job after 368 days. Yay! An isolation or wilderness season is usually a liminal space, or an in-between place where ordinary life is suspended. The Christian wilderness tends to be a place of tests, trials and learning God’s ways post-deliverance before walking into His (spiritual) promised land. At least this was the case for me.
My wilderness experience began almost immediately after I received new revelation by God. That was followed by the most significant demonic attack I’ve ever faced. As this season comes to a close, I have to admit that it marks a bitter sweet ending of a profound life moment. Work by God entailed exposing and rooting out sin in my life along with things and people that aren’t necessarily sinful or bad, but simply aren’t necessary or helpful for me. He also continues to shower me with love.
While I’ve not been perfectly obedient and I’ve flunked tests along the way, the intimacy and bond built with my Abba Father has been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s transcendent beyond human understanding and anything I can articulate. His grace truly abounds – even where I may have lengthened my season due to my own delayed/partial obedience. I’m learning y’all. A bonus has been spending a great deal of time with my rising 88-year-old grandmother and gleaning from her wisdom. Our favorite activities have been seniors water aerobics, thrifting and loving on God through the study of His Word. God is intentional.
As I reflect, there are things that I would do differently. It has been trial by fire and trial and error to put it bluntly. I mainly wish I’d learned early on not to worry so much about “what’s next?” and “when?”. Being still and sitting at His feet were perfectly fine and correct things to do.
So, I write this as a celebratory post as God ushers me out of the wilderness and into a new season. I hope to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ who may be in a wilderness season (or about to go into one). Here are 5 major takeaways from my experience:
1. Wilderness Follows New Revelation or Victory
Seasons, pursuant to God’s Kingdom, are governed by revelation and truth not clocks and calendars. As shared above, my wilderness season began almost immediately after receiving new revelation about my identity in Christ. And as the saying goes, “new levels bring on new devils.” This is aligned with Jesus’ experience as well as that of the Israelites after God saved them from Pharaoh and parted the Red Sea. We learn from the Gospels that soon after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, He was led into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights where He was tempted by the devil. Similarly, the Israelites went into the wilderness after God freed the nation from slavery in Egypt. Their disobedience resulted in an extended stay of an additional 38 years following the initial 2 – for a total of 40 years in the wilderness! There are other Biblical examples of wilderness experiences. If you are newly in a wilderness season or suspect that you may be thrusted into one soon, you should be prepared for many aspects of your life to fall apart. Don’t panic.
Unbeknownst to me, I was right where God wanted me all along. Sometimes I felt forgotten or set aside. I made attempts to free myself, but He closed and locked every single door I tried to pry open relative to work opportunities and even those in pursuit of entrepreneurship. Ultimately, I was stopped in my tracks when a brother in Christ prophetically relayed outright: “God sees you. He is not in a hurry to send a job. He has an opportunity with you and He will use it.”. I share as an aside that the job I have now was handpicked by Him. He will go to great lengths to stop whatever you pursue as well as anyone or anything that may be pursuing you. He sees it as a distraction and His plan for your life will not be thwarted. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21. Listen to the Holy Spirit for strategy regarding your next move. Keep in mind that you are isolated not, not forgotten or set aside. He sees you. He knows. He has you right where He wants you. He’s there with you and will not leave nor forsake you.
3. The Purpose of the Wilderness is to Go Deep
In connection with point #2, God desired to bring me into the deep to penetrate layers far beyond my surface level knowledge – minus distractions. Yes, tests and trials were involved, but I see now that His tests were simply designed to teach me His ways. I really did struggle to understand the purpose of the season and thought of many ways to take matters into my own hands – re: point #2. The struggle ended where I came to realize that He is in control of all things in history and my life. I couldn’t take things into my own hands if I wanted to because I’m in His hands. The control of my life that I thought I had prior to Him stepping in was an illusion all along. My help comes from Him. And it turns out that my propensity to want to control and my self-reliance were actually two of many things He desired to root out of me. You may be frustrated and lack understanding, but remember that the wilderness season is not without purpose. God has taken you under His tutorship and more than likely, He plans to use you mightily! Go deep now because you may never have this opportunity again.
4. Wilderness is Not Punishment
Some days I would convince myself that my wilderness was punishment to rationalize my pain and frustration without taking it out on God. As an aside, He can take whatever you throw at Him – respectfully. Again, the hardest parts were the uncertainty and dealing with sin. But because God is God, sin must be dealt with. There was no way around those horrible things I would have preferred to leave under the rug. Once I changed my perspective, I found the wilderness to be a blessing – and, actually, a time for rest and restoration. In the hard times, remember that God’s Grace, made manifest through Jesus Christ is sufficient to take us through every and any circumstance we have in life. Romans 12:8-10. Further, God’s plans are good and are intended to give us a future hope. Jeremiah 29:11. He causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:24. So, hang in there. Suffering is part of the Christian program.
5. The Season Has to End
Solomon teaches us in Ecclesiastes that there is a time and season for everything under the sun. The sun always shines after the rain and there is nothing new. Trust me when I say that God will continue to provide for you and you will be released in the fullness of time. I found comfort in knowing that I’m not the first child of God to be brought through such a difficult process, and I will not be the last. “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of the old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19.
In the meantime, pray and fast, intercede for others, obey (timely) and stay in the Word. Finally, remember what James taught us – to count it all joy! James 1:2-4.
As for me, I’ll be singing into my new season with joy and gladness in my heart eagerly awaiting to learn more details of God’s perfect plan for my life.