God is in the Wilderness

In the book, "Wounded by God’s people by Ann Graham Lotz," Ann writes

“A wilderness is defined as an uncultivated, uninhabited, inhospitable region. I would also describe a wilderness as dry, barren, lonely, and rocky. And it was in a spiritual wilderness that I found myself several years ago. Because it was a time in my life that was dry… seemingly devoid of the rain of God’s blessing; barren… seemingly devoid of evidence of real fruit in my life; lonely… devoid of any conscious awareness of God’s presence; and it was rocky… littered with problems and obstacles and hard things.

One morning, I (Anne) intended to open my Bible to the verses on which I had been meditating the day before. But as divine providence would have it, I made a “mistake.” Instead I opened to a chapter that was several pages past where I had been. 

The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. Exodus 20:21

The verse seemed to be illuminated. It leaped up off the page as I heard God whispering to me through the words, Anne, most people shy away from the wilderness. They don’t like the darkness of oppression, loneliness, dryness, barrenness. They don’t like to be in a hard place. If they think I’m going to lead them there, they resist, back off, and want no part of following Me. But, Anne, Moses approached the thick darkness. Because that’s where I was. And that’s where I still am, Anne. 

Embrace the darkness.

Before I could answer Him, before I could even pray, almost before I could even think, I found myself turning several pages back to where I was “supposed” to have been reading. The first verse of that reading was,

While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud. Exodus 16:10

The desert is another name for the wilderness! That dry, barren, rocky, lonely place where I seemed to be. And I knew God was telling me, Anne, I am here. Look closely. You will see My glory in the dark cloud. 

God is in the darkness and God is in the wilderness.

In Matthew 11:7 Jesus ask “…What did you go out into the wilderness to see?”

Who am I going into the wilderness to see? Am I willing to meet Jesus there?