Have you ever hiked in the wilderness?
A few questions usually cross your mind: Am I on the right path? Is this harder than I expected? And what is waiting around the next bend?
Tamara and I had always wanted to visit Yellowstone National Park. When I ministered nearby, we spent a couple of days exploring. The scenery and wildlife were incredible, but Tamara did not want to meet a mama bear with her cubs. She made me promise to buy bear spray. While sitting in the car trying to figure out how it worked, I accidentally sprayed it inside the vehicle! I spent the next 30 minutes cleaning up my mess.
Life can feel like that. Sometimes our choices create the mess. Other times, unexpected circumstances place us in a wilderness. But Psalm 84:5-12 gives us hope: God does not just want to get us out. He wants to lead us through and reveal the wonder of His love along the way.
First, we need inspiration. The psalmist says, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” He describes people passing through the Valley of Baka — a place of weeping — and turning it into “a place of springs.”
Joseph knew that wilderness. His brothers betrayed him, he was sold into slavery and later thrown into prison. Yet Genesis 39 repeats one powerful truth: the Lord was with Joseph. His circumstances changed, but God’s presence never did.
That is still true. Romans 8 says the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. When we are hurting or confused, God can create springs of hope in places that might have drained us dry.
We also need direction. Psalm 84 says God’s people go “from strength to strength.” God does more than comfort us — He leads us forward. That means guarding our hearts and listening to Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and wise voices.
Hebrews 12 warns us not to let bitterness take root. What grows inside us eventually influences where we go. Sometimes God has to rearrange us inside before He can lead us into what He has prepared.
Finally, we can trust God to provide and protect. The psalmist calls the Lord “a sun and shield.” He gives us what we need to flourish and watches over us as we move forward. Even when we cannot see the path, we can trust the One who can.
Whatever wilderness you are walking through, do not confuse difficulty with God’s absence. Draw strength from Him. Follow His direction. Trust His presence when you cannot see the outcome. The wilderness may become the place where you discover His faithfulness most deeply. You may enter trying to survive, but with God’s help, you can come through standing in wonder at His goodness and grace!
