God desires each of our lives to be filled with joy, not compulsive service. If our walk as a Christian has become dull and missing out on that joy he promises, then maybe we need to visit one of God’s wilderness playschools.
Any Christian I know will tell you that they know people who have heard God calling them to step out in faith, but are afraid to go. Many are even afraid to even listen, because they fear that God will tell them to go be a missionary in Africa, or some other remote place. That they would have to give up everything to serve God, the way he desires.
Following the Lord’s leading and walking out on faith into a spiritual, or perhaps even literal wilderness can be the scariest thing in the world. It is the fear of the unknown… the great “What If?” What if this happens, or that thing comes upon us? What will we do? Perhaps we’ll die out there, with no one to save us….
It is so easy for us to forget that where God leads, he also provides. The wilderness is the perfect environment for the Lord to test our faith in his provision and promises. That’s because we are placed in situations where we are beyond our comfort zones spiritually, emotionally and sometimes physically. in these situations our only option is trusting in God.
Into the wilderness by choice
We should learn to listen, and obey God’s leading, whenever he is calling us into a wilderness situation. It is always his desire for us to go through our wilderness seasons willingly. When we do, a very interesting thing happens. We enter into what I call God’s wilderness playschool.
Many of us might not remember our first years of school, because we were very young. Nursery or preschool, often comes before kindergarten. Think about the name “nursery” school. The word nursery relates to a protected place for tender plants, or people, etc. to grow free from danger. Just as a baby is given a crib with walls which prevent the child from falling out of bed, so are these little children given a protected environment where they can learn while they play. These are sometimes referred to as playschools.
God’s wilderness playschool is a place where his children can learn to grow up spiritually in a safe environment, while they learn to lean on him more and more. These spiritual children learn important skills like faith, love, respect and patience. It is in this place of safety, where we are literally held in the palm of his hands, though we might not even realize it. He watches over us closely and will only allow what we are able to bear, to test and prove us.
If we choose to go willingly into these wilderness periods, we will find they are not as grievous as we expected. Instead, we will often experience great joy as our trial becomes something like a great adventure. After all we are like little children, exploring a whole new world. One that we probably never imagined could be so rewarding. We soon learn our fear is nothing but the enemy trying his best to keep us from the very best God has for us. A friend of mine named David Eells wrote a great book titled Fear Not the Wilderness. You can download it free, and it’s a fantastic read, as are his other books from Unleavened Bread Ministries. The point is, that God does not intend for us to fear the wilderness, but to embrace it.
Wilderness Adventures
We can even think about it as a vacation from the everyday routine. It is a time to learn to rest from our own works and to simply trust God. That’s not to say it won’t be a challenge. Climbing a high mountain is never easy, but the view from the top makes it all worth it. In God’s wilderness play-school, we are climbing up his spiritual mountain top while we play, explore, sing, dance and watch how our father does miracle after miracle.
Notice, this doesn’t sound like the person who is saying, “Oh my, I have to go to this place or do this thing because God told me to! I don’t want to go, because I’m very scared.” No, it might start that way for some, but anyone who has spent time at the play-school of the Kingdom, has more stories of adventure then they can count. What we get out of our schooling is 100% determined by what we put in! Come in with an attitude of faith and get ready for God to pave a highway as the valleys are raised up and the mountains are made low before you.
Arks of Refuge
Goshen was a place in Egypt, where God led Israel during a great famine. God sent Joseph to pave the way for them to have a safe place to live, even while all Egypt was selling everything they had just for bread. Israel’s family grew and prospered there for many years as they saw the Lord’s blessing working for their benefit.
Today God is once again calling people to come out to a faraway place like Goshen. To enter into the wilderness and be planted there for a time. It may not be forever, but it is for right now. If you have thought about living the homestead life, or venturing out like a modern day pilgrim… then perhaps it is God doing the leading. Take a step of faith. One step at a time is how we enter this wilderness. Its also how we get to the other side!
To learn more about the wilderness read my book Awake Mount Zion, A Call to the Remnant Bride.
