God Shows Up in the Wilderness

3 min readJul 8, 2018

I bet you thought you’d run into God only at worship or when you pray; when you are studying your Bible or reading a great devotional!

Don’t get me wrong, He is omnipresent — meaning everywhere — all the time! No doubt we are inspired by what others have written and by how the words in the Bible speak to our hearts.

You may find yourself now, though, in a season in the wilderness. It may feel like God is absent. You may think you are alone and left to your own resources. It’s lonely. It’s scary. We can feel hopeless. I know! I’ve been there, too!

But believe this: God shows up in the wilderness! For Moses He appeared as a burning bush. My pastor, this morning, referred to that bush as a sacramental window into God’s presence. Isn’t that beautiful?

What wilderness are you walking in? How might God be working in you to get your full attention? Like Moses, His call has been working in us since our birth.

I wandered in my own wilderness for a long time. I didn’t feel God working in me, but He certainly was! I didn’t call out to Him but he bid me draw closer even as I turned my back. He waited for me. But not idly. Not without action and purpose. He sent people and events into my life to ensure I didn’t wander too far to find my way back. I didn’t see a burning bush, but as I began to pursue my dream/purpose again, He walked beside me every step of the way.

With each step toward actively living into my dream again, I felt His presence. I have found myself humbled and reverent, dismayed and convicted. The renewed pursuit feels both “dangerous and attractive; both uncomfortable and reassuring.” [Rev. T. Bryson Smith] I believe that’s how I know it’s not my ability, will or power, but God’s plan and purpose being revitalized!

Like Moses, I saw only my shortcomings and focused on my lack of skill and ability — not to mention the long journey back to living my purpose. But God revealed that my focus was on the wrong thing! He reminded me that He does not call us into a purpose not meant for us! He knows us better than we know ourselves and we already have within us everything we need!

So if you’re wandering in the wilderness right now, do not lose hope! God is there with you. He’s standing in the wings, waiting for your heart to be broken for Him; waiting for you to seek your purpose; waiting to deploy you through His wisdom, power and strength. He’s already equipped us! It’s up to us to move; to trust in Him and not our own understanding or ability.

You will hear God so clearly when you are standing on the holy ground of your purpose! He’s calling you to live into that purpose. He calls me, too.