Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it – Confucius
For the purposes of this passage the wilderness that I am referencing does not refer to foliage or giant oaks. The wilderness that I wish to discuss is that place everyone occasionally finds himself or herself in psychologically as well as spiritually. Metaphorically speaking, there have been many names given to encountering a wilderness experience. Some call it a sabbatical, some call it a hiatus, and some call it being in “time out”. Even the words exile and isolation comes to mind. Regardless of the label, most will agree that wandering in the wilderness can be a life altering happenstance.
Dictionary.com defines the word Wilderness as a state of disfavor or a bewildering profusion (the property of being extremely abundant). This is extremely interesting to me that there could ever be disfavor in abundance. But after turning that concept over a few times in my mind I can kind of see how this could occur. Here are some examples of what I mean. The Billionaire that cannot maintain friendships or relationships of any kind because he/she can’t trust anyone. The Professor that holds several degrees and has every possible letter imaginable behind their name but doesn’t have any common sense. Or better yet, the child that has every toy, gaming system or gadget known to man but receives no love and affirmation from their parents.
That last example is near and dear to me because I see so many of our youth crying out for attention and affirmation. Unfortunately for them, a great many of them have parents that think throwing them some money and buying them everything that they ask for is showing them love. I don’t believe that this is a lost generation as many of my peers do. I have hope for our youth. It’s just a matter of parents becoming parents and not babysitters. If somebody other than you is raising your child because you willingly gave up your parental rights (For whatever reason) you are partly to blame for the state of our youth today. Children did not ask to come into this world. They arrived here because you chose to participate in activities that led to conception. Don’t penalize the child because you were not willing to face up to the consequences of your actions.
But I digress. I’m just very passionate about children’s rights and welfare. I know what it is like to have to practically have to beg your parents for attention and affirmation. However, that’s a whole ‘nother entry in and of itself.
I was talking about the wilderness, right…
The Word of God alludes to the wilderness on several occasions. Each time it is referenced it is usually in conjunction with a life-altering event for the individual or group having to journey through it. Just look to Moses and the Children of Israel (Deuteronomy Chapter Eight specifically speaks to the reason for the Children of Israel’s wilderness experience) for a perfect illustration of what it means to wander aimlessly (40 years) in the wilderness because of questionable decision-making and blatant disobedience to God’s law. Even the Son of God Himself spent time in the wilderness (40 days) where the strength of his character and the depth his faith was tested. Nonetheless, once the journeys of the aforementioned individuals were completed, a new chapter of life began for them all. So it is with us as well.
The wilderness can be a frightening and frustrating place if you allow it to be. The wilderness can also be a place of hopelessness without the right type of guidance available to you to assist you with finding your way. You can wander around aimlessly for years with no idea of where you are heading and with no desire to return to from whence you have come. However, the wilderness can also be a place of growth and enlightenment if you use your time wisely and take the time to ascertain how and why you have ended up in the wilderness.
The wilderness for me has been a place of self-exploration and solitude. I guess it’s the only child in me. I treasure my time in the wilderness. Once the initial discomfort fades away I learn to appreciate my time there. For it is in the wilderness where I have found spiritual enlightenment, learned valuable lessons, and been forced to take emotional inventory and get rid of unnecessary (not to mention unhealthy) emotional baggage.
Wilderness experiences lead to irrefutable testimonies. They also bolster the confidence of anyone that has ever endured such an experience simply because the person knows that they are better for having gone through it. They also offer an opportunity to witness the Grace and Mercy of the Most High firsthand. This is why at times bad things tend to happen to Good people. God does not punish his children. However, there are times he may remove the protection he places around those that choose to make Him the center of their life. Not vindictively, but sort of like an instructor that throws a pop quiz at his students. To make sure that you that you are retaining what you are reading and putting into practice the things that you are learning. However, here is the wonderful thing about the times when God allows certain negative things and negative situations to transpire in your life. Thorough it all He keeps you covered. He keeps the environment from hindering your progress. He keeps the damage and trauma that you suffer and endure during your wilderness experience from manifesting itself outwardly. For example, there are individuals that you interact with daily and you have no clue as to the amount of torment and anguish they have experienced over the course their lives. There are people that we interact with daily that have been physically and sexually abused, sick to the brink of death or literally on their death bed, nearly homeless or literally living outdoors, had no idea of how they were going to pay their bills or provide for themselves or their families because they were unemployed or underemployed. Nevertheless, no matter what your wilderness experience has been… you survived. The enemy did not defeat you and you are a better person for having experienced it. Not to mention during the process, God kept you looking brand new. I am a living witness to that. You can’t look at me and tell what I have been through (What I am currently going through), the sleepless nights, the bitter disappointments and betrayals, the health scares, the near death experiences… When people hear my testimony they are amazed and inspired and that in a nutshell sums up the very reason why we are required as servants of the Most High to endure occasional journeys through the wilderness.
So the next time you look around and find yourself isolated, don’t panic. Sometimes the only way you can get to where the Creator is trying to take you is by traveling through the wilderness. There’s something liberating about enduring the trials that come along with isolation (Trust me once you are placed in “time out” the trials are sure to follow). Primarily to test your faith but secondly to build your character. Trials and Tribulations as those old “chuch” mothers call them are a constant occurrence along life’s journey but they are seemingly intensified when a portion of that journey is traveled alone. I know from personal experience that there will come a time when you will find yourself so low that there is no other place to go but up. A time when you will find yourself in a place where nothing but your Faith will sustain you. Not your money, not your prestige, not your fame, not your entourage, not even that “thang” you are toting. Only your Faith coupled with Grace and Mercy bestowed upon you by the Most High.
I have been a wilderness wanderer several times over the course of my life. I can honestly say that my life has been enriched each and every single time I have emerged from my wilderness experience. Going in is absolutely unsettling but the feeling you get once the forest begins to clear and your objective comes into view is nothing short of exhilarating. The Book Ecclesiastes Chapter seven verse eight puts it best:"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."
So just a word to those that may one day find themselves wandering in the wilderness of life. Don’t be disheartened and don’t fight the process. Relish in your time spent in the wilderness. Everything that happens in this life happens for a reason. Experience has taught me that nothing is accidental or coincidental. Nonetheless, the key to surviving in the wilderness is being properly prepared. Keep an open mind, learn the lesson, keep the faith and keep on pushing toward your goal until you can’t push anymore. Then push some more. God honors effort. Now I know this can be easier said than done at times. There are times when frustration and the lack of any visible evidence that what you are doing is bearing fruit can cause one to entertain thoughts of throwing in the towel. However, take solace in knowing that as long as what you long for and strive to achieve is rooted in integrity and righteousness that it will bear much fruit, thus making your time in the wilderness time well spent.
