Define your wilderness before you can redefine your wilderness.
Dearest Reader,
We have planted seeds, potted plants, and put several flowering beauties in the ground. I’m dreaming of Peonies, Dahlias, Poppies, and Zinnias. I am not a gardener. I do not like bugs, dirt, sweat or the chance encounters with a slithering critter evoking screaming and my Sweet Man running to me.
But, cultivating beauty in the wilderness requires hard work, sweat, foot stamping, and no few tears.
However, to live here and thrive in The Wilderness Place I need beauty around me. Birdsong, butterflies, and buzzing bees. Hope for the seeds planted to flourish and grow.
Before we can redefine the wilderness, we must first define our wilderness.
To define the wilderness, we need to ask ourselves several questions.
- What is that thing that keeps you awake at nights? A worry, habit, grudge, a loved one, financial distress/disaster, grief, or a volatile marriage?
- A physical illness wrecking you with chronic pain?
- Is there a secret, perhaps a secret sin, that you are holding close?
- Where do you feel hopeless? Joyless? Ready to give up?
Not every wilderness looks or feels the same.
At some point in our life, we will experience the wilderness. Some of us will not have any other choice but to stay in the desert.
How we choose to live here will allow us to wither and wilt or flourish. The hard decision to live well and thrive will redefine the wilderness.
Giving up will lead to wilting, depression, anger, and darkness.
Choosing to thrive, choosing to redefine our wilderness will fill us with peace, joy, and hope.
I am not saying it’s easy. No, it is hard. There are days where one may take two steps forward only to fall back six or ten steps the next day.
If you are sitting on the fence, allowing the circumstances to choose for you, a light wind will send you reeling. One storm, then another, and another, and you will find yourself sinking.
At one time or another, I have done both.
I’m with you; I understand the depth of pain, hurt, and hopelessness.
Stay with me, and I promise to do my very best to guide you as we redefine the wilderness.
We will begin by sowing seeds of hope, peace, and joy.
Once we have sown the seeds, we will learn ways to nourish the seeds.
Over the next few days, take some time to define your wilderness.
Journal through question four: “Where do you feel hopeless? Joyless? Ready to give up?”
As you think through your answers, feel free to email me at tlmashburn@yahoo.com.
Your Wilderness Guide,
PS: My first book, Mornings In The Word is available now. Order your copy today.
Choosing the fence sitting seems right until we fall off! Great post, tammy. My wilderness is my self. Recognizing that it is is most helpful.
That does preach, Sue! Thanks for sharing! I’d love to hear more about that.
XO
I really liked Sue’s admission “her wilderness is herself.” Whew – that would preach.
Yes, it does! Great food for thought.
XO
Dear Tammy,
Oh yes, you are so right, until we allow God to help us define our wilderness, we will not be fully able to embrace a re-defined wilderness! He is bringing so much of that to the surface in me. Just today, I am seeing that even after much surrender regarding calling and talking with Doctors, I still have anxiety and hopelessness connected with that. There is more transformation yet to be accomplished in my heart with HIM. I am so thankful that He keeps working in us! Blessings to you Dear Sister!
Bettie, thank you for sharing! It does require so much surrendering, doesn’t it? You are right, the wilderness is where we are refined and transformed.
Beauty from ashes!
XO
How we choose to live in “our wilderness” will allow us to wither and wilt or live a life trusting God in all things. His love for us is unchanging. I believe the promises in God’s Word, he really does work all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Psalm 25:1, 5. “In you Lord, my God, I put my trust….My hope is in you all day long.”
Oh yes, Nancy, without HIS promises I would be a mess! Thank you for sharing. I’m writing down every Scripture the Lord brings to me on trust! I’ll be adding Psalm 25:1&5.
XO
This is important. Often I find myself feeling unsettled. Foolishly, I’ve gone for days with that feeling without taking the time to stop and think about what’s causing the feeling. It’s nearly impossible to overcome without being able to define the source. Sometimes, simply knowing the cause is all I need to move forward.
“Sometimes, simply knowing the cause is all I need to move forward.” Yes, Jana, exactly that!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
XO