Wilderness Lesson #1

One theme around this unique season, living under the “stay home” order has been that of uncertainty. While there are a variety of emotional responses to our circumstances, including fear, anxiety, excitement, resignation, frustration and impatience, all share in common the reality of the uncertainty of our situation. What will happen next? Will there be a boomerang? Will there be a recession? Every way we look at the challenge of COVID-19 is met with a substantial question mark.

Last week I commented that I felt this was a wilderness moment for us. One of the realities of the wilderness is uncertainty. Things are new and different, the “normal” routines and resources that we are accustomed to are disrupted. Strategies that we have used to manage our lives, relationship and sense of well-being may be unavailable to us. In this circumstance we may even feel a persistent sense of disequilibrium. 

I am reminded that Moses described the wilderness as “great and terrifying” (Deuteronomy 1:19 and 8:15). That certainly contributes to disequilibrium! Whether we find the current pandemic to be great and terrifying or not, we can find help in recognizing that God has a purpose for the wilderness: faith-building. 

When we are in times of uncertainty, sometimes we focus on the surviving as the goal. I delight that God has shown His faithfulness to so many providing health and safety and resources to “survive.” But survival is not God’s purpose (though it may be an outcome) in the wilderness. Some experts counsel us to find ways to continue thriving, even in adversity. I agree that we should find ways to thrive and to help others thrive. But thriving is not God’s purpose (though it may be an outcome) in the wilderness. God’s purpose in the wilderness is reviving. He calls us to refocus on trusting Him, not our strategies, routines, resources, for surviving and thriving. The wilderness strips things away so that we can get back to the simple truth that we are dependent on God. In the face of many things that are uncertain, one thing is certain, God is faithful! 

Pursue Christ – He is enough,

            Pastor Jeff

A Moment of Wilderness

Spring has “sprung,” the birds are singing, the sun is shining (that is somehow appropriate as this week in called Bright Week in some Christian traditions). That means the list of activities has just gotten longer – weeding, lawn mowing, hole digging, etc. 

We are in truly singular moment (which I hope remains singular) in history. For many of us, life feels radically different as we celebrated Resurrection Sunday virtually or only with immediate family. People are being furloughed, laid off or sent home to work virtually. Many stores are closed, some maybe to never open again. The impacts of this moment are yet to be understood. Some focus on the uncertainty – which is real, I might add (I feel it, too) – and concern over what is yet to come. Some focus on the frustration over how things are being handled. Some are celebrating the opportunity to slow down. Wherever you find yourself emotionally, which may more accurately involve vacillating back-and-forth between these, something new has happened for most of us.

I can’t help but think this must have been a little something like how the Israelites felt out in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan. It’s worth a read or a listen (Exodus through Deuteronomy). As our experience of sequestering progresses, perhaps we can learn something from Israel’s experience. God met them in faithfulness, yet they got frustrated: with their circumstances, with their leadership, even with the blessings God gave them. We shouldn’t be hasty to condemn, instead we should take an inventory of our souls and see what similar attitudes and beliefs lurk within us. 

Perhaps the better example comes from another wilderness. Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days. What did he experience? Both great challenge and great blessing! Satan tempted Jesus severely and angels ministered to him. This season of “wilderness” provides the same opportunity to us. I hope that we will take this season to examine what we really value, the patterns that we have developed and the goals we have set and dive deeply into the opportunity to meet with God and recalibrate our lives around what is truly eternal.

Pursue Christ – He is enough,

            Pastor Jeff