Can the ache of wilderness become a sacred space?

As the frigid arctic air blasted its way across our mountains, I shivered and turned even further into myself. The past few weeks had been hard, demanding … emotional. I wasn’t comfortable in this wilderness place. The bitter cold only served to reinforce my wayward thoughts.

God who created the garden also created the wilderness

“The wilderness is an unpleasant place, fleshly speaking. We naturally want prosperity, health, and easy-going. But the same God who created the garden also created the wilderness. There will be times of trial and pressure. Our faith will be tested. But the God of grace will meet us even in the wilderness. Missionary Amy Carmichael knew this truth: ‘Bare heights of loneliness . . . a wilderness whose burning winds sweep over glowing sands, what are they to Him? Even there He can refresh us, even there He can renew us’” (GotQuestions.org)

Even in the wilderness God can refresh us, even there He can renew us.

Amy Carmichael’s insight is powerful: “Bare heights of loneliness … a wilderness whose burning winds sweep over glowing sands, what are they to Him? Even there He can refresh us, even there He can renew us.”

Perhaps Jesus knew the same.

Luke 5:16 tells us, “He, Himself [Jesus] often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” Jesus chose the wilderness as a place of solitude, whereas I tend to run away from this difficult place — the place of angst, trial, desolation, and barren dry places.

Jesus found rest, solitude, reverence, and peace in the wilderness

Why would Jesus seek out the wilderness when His heart was troubled?

Because He knew the One in whom He believed. He knew the sacredness of the wilderness, the closeness of the Father, the ease in hearing the Father’s voice in the solitude found there.

I can imagine Jesus sitting beneath the boughs of an acacia tree hidden in the shadows that linger even in the noonday sun. He presses His back against the bark, rough with desert dryness, raises His head, and opens His eyes to behold the heavens and consider His Father.

Jesus found rest, solitude, reverence, and peace in the wilderness.

His gaze must pass through the multitude of thorns protruding from each branch. The significance does not go unnoticed – the thorns representing sin and the curse of a fallen world.

Jesus closes His eyes and listens. Come to Me, My Son. Come and let me ease Your burden.

A boulder juts from the barren earth a few feet away. Jesus heeds the voice of His Father. I can envision Him kneeling against the hard surface, hands clasped, head bowed. Perhaps a tear escapes and flows effortlessly down His cheeks of flesh while He prays for us .. while He asks for strength.

How beautiful to know He prays for us!

Jesus Found the Father in the Sacred Space of Wilderness

But the point is that Jesus prayed often in the wilderness. He found rest there. Solitude. Reverence. And peace. He did not find torment, failure, or fear — those things we equate with our wilderness experiences.

He found His Father in this sacred space.

Our Father also waits for us in our wilderness.

Will you heed His call?

Selah

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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.

Sweet blessings to you,