How to Travel Best Through a Wilderness Journey

I’ve been on many different kinds of journeys in my life, some fun and intentional. Some I’ve chosen for myself. Some I didn’t choose for myself, other people chose them for me. However, sometimes God chooses. Certain kinds of God’s journeys are not necessarily fun, but they are essential for God’s children. I call these wilderness journeys. Today, I share the best way to travel through a wilderness journey.

I’ve been on a few wilderness journeys now and each one has had a specific purpose for my life. As far as I can tell right now, my current wilderness journey has had numerous purposes. One thing is certain, I’ve definitely gained more knowledge about God and His ways. In fact, I’ve learned something amazingly new about bookends.

Yep! Bookends.

I’ve learned about their purpose, their importance, and why the content between the bookends is not only worthy of their support, but of utmost importance.

I’ve learned we need specific bookends that hold specific instructional content for our wilderness journeys.

True Story Ahead

My current wilderness journey began September 11, 2018, although I didn’t know I had started a wilderness journey that day. I wouldn’t know for a couple more weeks. Oh sure, three days later I clearly realized my life was going to change when I learned my job was eliminated, but I definitely was not expecting a wilderness journey. Yet, that’s exactly what God had planned for me.

Now almost five months later I can tell you, I never would have believed all that God had planned for me to experience and learn on this particular wilderness journey.

One day in mid-December during my quiet time, the Lord brought me to Psalms 37. This, my friends, is the chapter God has brought me to for the toughest wilderness journeys since 2006.

God doesn’t take me to this chapter for the light and easy journeys in my life. He takes me here for the difficult journeys. This should tell you something about my current wilderness journey.

I’ve read and studied Psalms 37 a few times over the years. Can you imagine my excitement when God showed me something new from this chapter?

Once again, the Lord has used this particular chapter to encourage, counsel, and guide me.

Bookends

On that particular day in mid-December, the Lord showed me that Psalms 37:1-7 has matching bookends.

Bookends are the support at the end of a row of books. Bookends keep the content between them upright and secure. The best bookends are strong and immovable.

The bookends of Psalms 37:1-7 are “Do NOT Fret.”

The Holy Spirit revealed the bookends, “Do NOT Fret,” had been and would continue to hold me up and keep me secure during this wilderness journey.

I wasn’t worried at the beginning of my journey. I wasn’t worried in December, and I’m not worried now either. I know not worrying from beginning to end is critically important.

God encouraged me to continue on my wilderness journey keeping my “Do NOT Fret” bookends strong and immovable.

Content

After the bookends were revealed, God showed me what they were holding together, upright and secure:

Trust in the LORD
Dwell in the land
Enjoy safe pasture
Delight yourself in the LORD
Commit your way to the LORD
Trust in Him
Be still before the LORD
Wait patiently for Him

“Do not fret” bookends are holding instructions how to successfully handle a wilderness journey.

I couldn’t believe it. God revealed to me instructions how to travel best and safest on this wilderness journey. I knew exactly what I needed to do, and I also knew what I needed NOT to do.

The Beauty of Not Fretting

Not worrying (fretting) about where God is taking me or how long the journey is going to take has freed me to embrace present moments on this journey. Let me tell you, there have been precious moments of discovery and revelation. There have been sacred moments with God Himself. There have been painful moments and tear-filled moments and moments of awe. There have been moments of deep grief and deep gratitude. There have been moments of sorrow and joy. There have been moments of conviction, confession, and celebration. And there have been moments of stillness and rest.

I’m convinced I wouldn’t have experienced any of these moments without this specific wilderness journey at this specific time in my life.

Sometimes we try to hurry the wilderness journey. We become impatient. We act on our impatience usually because of our worry. We take short cuts because we start worrying God doesn’t know what He’s doing. We decide He’s taking too long according to our own calculations. This behavior and thought process is evidence we don’t trust Him.

When we find ourselves trying to “fix” or determine the outcome, we can be sure we’ve stopped committing our way to the Lord. Instead, we’ve committed to our own way.

On February 1, 2019, I was brought to Proverbs. I slowly read Proverbs 2, 3, and 4. I hovered over Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Later that day, I learned that a job I interviewed for would not be given to me. After four interviews with five people and preparing and presenting a formal presentation, I did not get the job. Most would assume I’d be discouraged. Remember the bookends and the instructional content my bookends are holding?

My heart immediately thanked God for His direction. That may seem incredibly strange to some, but I take it seriously when I commit my ways to the Lord. I trust Him to make my paths straight. This includes wherever He wants me to work.

I do my best to prepare, to give my all, but God Himself is the One who determines my steps, the direction I’m to take, and the outcome (Proverbs 16:9).

Best-case Scenario

Susie Larson often says that God has our “best-case scenario” planned. I agree with her. No matter how much I apply myself and do my best to go a specific direction, if I trust in the Lord and commit my ways to Him it won’t happen if it isn’t my best-case scenario according to the Lord.

Honestly, why would we want anything less than God’s best-case scenario?

Therefore, I won’t fret. He has a plan for my future. This wilderness journey is not meant to harm me or any of my family who are impacted by my unemployment. No, this wilderness journey is a God-ordained journey. I’ve said from the beginning, He has a plan to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

I trust in the LORD. I’ve committed my way to Him. Oh, I have delighted in Him. There’s nothing better than enjoying God Himself. Some days I just sit and read His Word and let it penetrate my soul. Then I look up and realize just how safe I am in the palm of His hand.

During this wilderness journey, I’ve dwelled, lived, remained with God. I’ve enjoyed safety. Like God provided for the Israelites on their 40-year wilderness journey, He has provided for me too. I’m thankful I don’t have to eat manna every day, but I would if that’s what He provided. He has my best-case scenario in mind. I will remain strong, firm, and steadfast because He has made me this way over years of journeying with Him already. I believe God prepared me for this specific wilderness journey.

God is leading me. When He’s ready, and He knows I’m ready, He will part the sea for me to walk right into my next mission for Him for His glory just like He did the Israelites to their Promised Land. Until then, I am securely held together by not worrying. God has it all figured out.

Your Wilderness Journey

If you are currently on a wilderness journey like me or the next time you find yourself traveling in the wilderness, remember God’s bookends and instructions for the wilderness journey. We can travel to our destination however long it takes on whatever path it is by trusting in the LORD, delighting in the LORD, committing our way to the LORD, being still before the LORD, waiting patiently for Him, and being completely safe as we dwell in the wilderness with Him all while not worrying.

Is it possible to do all of that? Yes. I can honestly say we can because I am doing it in this very present moment of my wilderness journey.