Journey to Easterনমুনা

Spend Some Time in The Wild

You’ve probably met people who regularly go away camping in some remote place just to think, plan, prepare, or to process a life event. The idea sounds great, but who has time for such things? Jesus did.

In the book of Mark, we get a seriously condensed version of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness. We know more about this time from elsewhere in the Gospels, but Mark had a different focus. We need to zoom out a little.

These verses illuminate the necessity of a preparatory phase before Jesus embarked on His ministry. The wilderness served as a crucible, shaping Him for the challenges ahead. This is a profound lesson for us – before growth in faith we need to make time for a period of introspective solitude, a time for testing and communion with God, and to watch for the evil one trying to throw us off track.

Just as Jesus was led into the wilderness, where are our own sacred spaces for reflection and growth? Will we follow the prompt of the Spirit, trusting Him as we face the ‘wild animals’ and temptations that test and strengthen our faith?

Consider this in the context of Lent, a season traditionally dedicated to reflection and penance. Perhaps move away from the trivial of giving up chocolate or Instagram and lean into a Lenten retreat – a deliberate and purposeful withdrawal to strengthen your faith and your purpose in Him – just as God’s Son did in the wilderness before dying in our place to pay for our sins.

Written by AARON WRIGHT