The Wilderness
Wilderness is term that also means a desert. Generally it is a desert area of plains where sand predominates, or it is stony with rocks with very little vegetation because it rarely rains. Towns or cities exist only if they have the possibility of extracting underground water, which is why it is more common to find a lot of desolation and few hamlets.
In our lives, however, we also sometimes find ourselves in a situation of spiritual wilderness. There are situations that should make us meditate and pray, remembering Jesus when he went into the desert for forty days.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.” Matthew 4:1-2 ESV
Jesus defeated the devil after many temptations that Satan presented to Him, and, at the end of that hard period He said to the tempter: “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.” Matthew 4: 10-11 ESV
Sometimes at home or at work, we also live as if we were wandering in a desert at those moments. “Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!” Psalm 107 4-8 ESV
All this makes us reflect if we cry out to the Lord often.
The world is full of temptations that we must face daily, and our faith is the protection that we must always use. We battle against the carnality and lack of understanding of many who tend to judge those who refuse to fall into such temptations. Our heart needs to prepare to be able to survive this wilderness full of difficult situations for a believing spirit. If possible, we can escape or go to places where there is stillness and silence to reflect and pray. It is there where we are tested to be humble and honest, confessing to the Lord what is really in our heart. Always with the certainty and absolute security that in Him we will find mercy, love and wisdom to get through the desert.
This involves learning and knowing what we ourselves are, and thus being able to better know the God of all grace with whom we are related and love Him. Since there is a need for constant dependence or we will fail, even though God will never stop helping us when we are wandering in the wilderness, and we know how to ask for help. A good reading can be found in the Holy Scriptures when we are told how the Israelites subsisted for forty years in the desert thanks to the miracles and help of God.
May God bless you.
