And immediately the Spirit brought Him out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.
Many of us have has experienced seasons of wrestling in the “wilderness” in our faith. These are times when God felt far, the hardship of the world was close, and doubt was easy. Immediately after His baptism, Jesus faced a period of testing that included temptation, hunger, and weakness. He felt the sweat from the heat, the pain of starvation, and the pull of Satan before He ever showed His miraculous power publicly. If we wonder how to walk through these times when we feel alone and weary in our faith, we can be encouraged by the One who has gone before us.
Jesus has given us the example of how to live not from a place of power and prestige but from a place of humility, enduring trials, and pain. Hebrews 4:15-16 says “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” And not only can Jesus relate to us, but He is with us in every season as well. We don’t have to walk through seasons of wilderness on our own. Our Savior has gone before us and walks with us every step of the way.
- When have you felt alone in your faith recently? How does it feel to know Jesus has gone before you in your hardship and is with you now?
- What are some things you need to bring before the throne of grace through prayer?
- Pray about the hardships you have been carrying recently, seeking to trust God with them.
