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Jesus' Presence With Us in the Wilderness of Lent
The Wilderness as a Place of Spiritual Growth
As we enter the season of Lent, we are called to journey through the wilderness—a place of reflection, prayer, fasting, and preparation for the joy of Easter. It is a season that calls us to leave behind distractions, confront our weaknesses, and deepen our faith in Christ. But what does it mean to be in the wilderness? And how do we encounter Jesus in this place?
In the Bible, the wilderness is often a symbol of testing, transformation, and dependence on God. From the Israelites wandering in the desert for forty years to Jesus retreating into the wilderness to fast and pray before beginning his public ministry, the wilderness has always been a place where God's people encounter divine presence in profound ways.
Jesus in the Wilderness
In Luke 4:1-13 (the Gospel reading from the First Sunday in Lent), we see Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he is tempted by the devil for forty days and nights. While this experience is one of isolation, hunger, and testing, it is also a time where Jesus is intimately connected with his Father in prayer and is reliant on God's Word for strength. Jesus, the Son of God, enters the wilderness not to escape it, but to face it head-on as part of his mission to save humanity.
Jesus' time in the wilderness teaches us something profound: He was not alone, and neither are we. In the midst of suffering, temptation, and hardship, we are never abandoned. Jesus' presence with us in the wilderness offers us comfort, hope, and strength as we confront the challenges in our own lives. He has walked this path before us, and he walks it with us now.
The Wilderness as a Place of Growth
Lent calls us to reflect on our own wilderness experiences—the times in life when we feel lost, distant from God, or overwhelmed by circumstances. It is in these moments that we often discover just how deeply we need God's grace. The wilderness is not a place where we are punished, but a place where we are shaped, refined, and made more dependent on God’s mercy.
In Lent, we are invited to give up those things that distract us from God—to make space for God’s presence in our lives. The practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not ends in themselves but ways to open our hearts to the presence of Jesus, who walked the wilderness for us and with us. These practices help us to refocus, to find joy in the midst of hardship, and to be reminded that God's love never leaves us.
Jesus, the Companion in Our Wilderness
As we walk through this Lenten season, we are invited to remember that Jesus is with us in the wilderness. He walks alongside us in our struggles and doubts. He knows what it’s like to face temptation, to endure hardship, and to wrestle with the weight of the world. And yet, in the wilderness, he is victorious, showing us the way forward through his grace and strength.
In times of trial, we may be tempted to think that God is distant or absent. But the wilderness is precisely where God draws near, where his presence becomes most real. As we look to the cross, we are reminded that Jesus endured the ultimate wilderness for us—suffering, dying, and rising again to bring us life.
As we journey through these forty days of Lent, may we find comfort in the fact that Jesus has gone before us into the wilderness. He understands our struggles, he knows our pain, and he is with us every step of the way. In the wilderness of Lent, we find not isolation but the very presence of our Savior, who leads us to the joy of Easter and the hope of eternal life.
In Christ's love,
Pastor Marissa Becklin
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