Good morning. Today is Thursday, August 6th!

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Matthew 4:1

The word wilderness doesn’t just describe a place in the Bible. It can also describe a season of life. A season where you feel lost, lonely, discouraged, or unsure of what God is doing. Chances are, you’ve been in a wilderness before. Maybe you’re in one right now.

When life feels like that, it’s easy to wonder, Did I do something wrong? Is God upset with me?

But the Bible shows us that’s not always the case.

Right after Jesus was baptized, the Father declared, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, NIV). If anyone was exactly where God wanted Him to be, it was Jesus.

So what happened next?

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1).

Jesus wasn’t there because He had failed. He was there because the Father had a purpose.

The wilderness wasn’t a punishment. It was preparation.

That doesn’t mean every wilderness is preparation. Israel’s wilderness came after their unbelief and became a season of discipline. But Jesus’ wilderness came in perfect obedience.

The point is this: don’t assume every difficult season means God is angry with you.

In fact, Deuteronomy 8 tells us why God sometimes leads His people through a wilderness. He humbles us, tests us, and reveals what’s in our hearts. He teaches us that “man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Those are the exact words Jesus quoted when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness.

Once you notice that pattern, you start seeing it throughout Scripture.

Moses spent years in the wilderness before leading Israel. David lived in the wilderness before wearing a crown. Elijah met God in the wilderness through a gentle whisper. John was exiled on the island of Patmos when he received the vision recorded in Revelation.

Again and again, God used the wilderness before the next chapter.

If you’re walking through a wilderness season today, don’t automatically assume God has forgotten you. Maybe He’s growing your faith. Maybe He’s teaching you to depend on Him more than your circumstances. Maybe He’s preparing you for something you can’t see yet.

So don’t just ask, “God, when will this season end?”

Ask, “God, what are You teaching me while I’m here?”

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Father, You are faithful, wise, and always with me.

Confession: Forgive me for doubting Your plan.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for never leaving me, even in the wilderness.

Supplication: Help me trust You and follow Your lead.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

“Oh Child” by Blessings Offor

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God