Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
(Mark 1:12-13 (NIV))

Do you ever feel that God has forsaken you?

Perhaps you feel that you have been led into a desert or wilderness and then just left abandoned. I want you to think about these situations that you find yourself in. According to Mark, Jesus found Himself alone and tempted. He faced that temptation and stayed true to what He was called to do.

If Jesus faced desert and wilderness experiences and endured temptation, what makes us better than Him? We will also face similar situations. We can rely on His strength to see us through them. We can have His strength which is firmly rooted in God the Father. We must simply rely upon Him to see us through these times.

"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."
(John 16:33 (NIV))

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
(John 14:12 (NIV))

If we are to do things greater than these, doesn't it stand to reason that we will also be led into wilderness situations and tempted as well? How are we to do things greater than these if we are not put into situations that call for us to allow Jesus to work through us? It is our frail humanity that keeps us from realizing that these situations are not the end of our faith, but are simply the testing and maturation of our faith. This comes about only if we focus on Jesus and not on the desert.

The next time that you face a desert or wilderness situation within your life, remember that Jesus also faced His own experiences. We must stay focused on Jesus and rely on His strength to see us through. We must learn to have faith through the wilderness.

Where is the Spirit sending you?

Copyright 1998 - 2026 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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