Blessed in the wilderness

If you are a new believer or have recommitted your life to Christ, firstly, praise be to God for your decision! And secondly, congratulations—you are now a threat to the kingdom of darkness. I say this not to frighten you but to help prepare you for the challenges ahead so you may be aware of the fiery ordeals that may come your way, but remember you have victory in Christ.

The minute you made that decision in your heart and professed with your mouth, you automatically became a threat to Satan, so don’t be surprised if all of a sudden your life seems to be "turning upside down." In other words, you find yourself in the wilderness—lost and isolated. But don't worry, you are not lost and most certainly not alone.

My hope is that by the end of this post you may be able to see that you are indeed blessed.

1 Peter 4:12-14

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."

If this describes your situation, your only task now is to stand firm in your faith because it will be tested. You might doubt your salvation or be tempted to return to your old life, but that's just a tactic from the enemy to tempt you to turn away from your faith and return to a life of destruction. Every believer experiences their own season in the wilderness, so take heart and do not be afraid, for you are truly blessed even in the wilderness. 

A brief background on my time spent in the wilderness

When I first gave my life to Christ in 2016, shortly after, my life completely turned upside down. I mean, absolutely everything started to fall apart—I was homeless, the career I was pursuing and had sacrificed everything for was falling apart, I was losing friendships, heck, even my own family was at odds, and the worst one of them all... The relationship with my son was being threatened.

It felt like my entire life had gone up in flames. 

I was utterly alone and felt like a failure, questioning the purpose of living. Despite believing I had nothing to live for, by God's grace, I persevered. He blessed me with a job as a restaurant general manager, using the experience to strengthen my character. During this challenging time, I prayed intensely and worked with the Holy Spirit, letting go of ungodly relationships. My faithfulness led me to my husband. I was truly living out my prayers, beyond blessed. I continuously gave God the glory, but I lacked the transformative power of the living word of God.

Although I believed in God and accepted salvation, I hadn't made Him Lord of my life. I didn't understand what it meant to love Him and dedicate my life to Him. For years, I was distracted by my "blessings," claiming to love God but rejecting Him with my lifestyle.

In 2023, when I rededicated my life to Christ, my life turned upside down again, but this time I was prepared. Aware of past mistakes and Satan's influence, I was equipped to fight back effectively.

In the following months, I wept on my bathroom floor, struggling with negative thoughts and countering them with scripture. Though it seemed like nothing was changing, my prayers were reaching heaven, and the word was planting seeds within me. Over time, as I read and proclaimed God's promises, those seeds took root and grew, until what once seemed like insurmountable mountains were no longer obstacles.

The word was purifying me from within, mending my brokenness. The more I read and obeyed, the more God's presence became alive in me, demonstrating His faithfulness! — you see, the wilderness is where your faith gets tested, where you learn to fully rely on God. The wilderness is not meant to break you; it's meant to build you!

Rejoice! You have the victory!

I share this portion of my testimony not to dishearten or alarm you, but to inspire hope and prepare you for the journey ahead. Indeed, challenging times will arise, as Jesus assures us.

John 16:33.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

But take heart! God already has the victory —even Jesus after being baptized He was led by the spirit into the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil himself!

I find it incredibly comforting that God himself! who took on human form, was tempted by the devil! Despite being God and having the power to defeat Satan instantly, he chose not to because he loves us that much! He did this for our sake! to pave the way for us ! and demonstrate that if he can do it, we can overcome temptation too!

John 14:12-14

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

He left us a blueprint on how to resist, and that blueprint is the word. This is precisely how he overcame Satan, and eventually, Satan left him alone.

I pray that my testimony and the fact that Jesus himself was led into the wilderness to be tempted, will inspire you, will light a fire in you, and fill you with the perseverance to run the race marked out for you, by fixing your eyes on Jesus. He alone will give you the strength to take heart! and to continue to fight the good fight of faith.

Despite obstacles and opposition, find comfort in knowing the wilderness is temporary and if you continue to follow Jesus, victory is assured!

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The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[d] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,  and they will lift you up in their hands,  so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.