Uncomfortable Places

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

(Mark 1:12-13 ESV)

Isn’t it funny how God’s Spirit DROVE Jesus into the wilderness? The Holy Spirit takes us to places where we are uncomfortable and otherwise not ready to go. He does this to us when we’re praying, when we’re making decisions, when we’re about to embark on something or after a spiritual high.

Jesus was driven to the wilderness after the heavens opened up and the voice of God, the Father, testified to his sonship. He should have been starting his ministry after this spiritual high and after being testified as the son of God in front of a large crowd. Instead, he was sent to the wilderness, a place that was not habitable and rather unpleasant. It was uncomfortable for Jesus. While Mark doesn’t elaborate on why God’s Spirit drove Jesus to the wilderness, we know that it was part of God’s plan and Jesus embraced it.

If you are in an uncomfortable place, a place where you’re out of your element, and it feels as if you’ve made a mistake in trusting in God who brought you to that place, there are three things that you should understand while you are in your wilderness:

1. This is going to be a set period of time. For Jesus, it was 40 days. There is an end date. It may not be 40 days, but rest assured, it will end when you are sanctified.
2. You’re being sanctified through your trials and tests. If you’re out of your comfort zone, you are a prime target to be tempted by Satan. Remember, you’re only here because it was part of God’s plan for you. There is something you are learning and somewhere you are growing. Embrace it and become better for it.
3. Angels are ministering to you despite the dangerous animals around you. Yes, when you are out of your comfort zone, the animals are dangerous because you do not know how to handle them. Whether they are real dangerous animals or figurative dangerous animals. You will be threatened. When God’s angels are ministering to you, it may not feel like it. But if you are surviving, then you’re being ministered to.

It was only after this period of hardship, that Jesus started his ministry and saved us through it. Imagine now, what incredible ministry God has in store for you after you’re out of the wilderness.