Wilderness Survival GuideSýnishorn

SURVIVAL TIP #1 —DON’T PANIC

Surviving a physical wilderness takes more than the skills to build a shelter, start a fire, and purify water. It requires a certain mindset, a will to live that overcomes the fear associated with crisis. Actually, some people who lack the skill but possess the will, find ways to survive. Upon entering a spiritual wilderness, our tendency is often to let our imagination run wild. “Will I ever make it out?” “Why is this happening to me?” “Does God not realize what I’m going through?” “Is He angry with me?” Though it’s natural to ask these questions, obsessing over them depletes our resolve to believe God. 

In the wilderness, perspective is everything, so, if you find yourself there: don’t panic. Take a moment to remind yourself who God is, who you are in Christ, and what the Bible says about His faithfulness during troubled times. Refuse to allow yourself to believe anything but God’s Word as David did during a spiritual desert: “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast!” (Psalm 57:7). Fear makes you susceptible to lies from the enemy. He will lie about God’s faithfulness and love for you. He’ll even lie about God’s existence, or about how valuable you are to Him. Such lies are meant to sap your spiritual stamina. But that’s when the “will to live” must rise — the will to live in the Spirit while you pass through desert regions.