A Time to Grow

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil… Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.” -Luke 4:1-2, 14

When we think of deserts, we often picture dry, barren, and difficult places. Spiritually, many of us know what it feels like to be in a desert season—times of testing, silence, loneliness, or struggle. What’s remarkable in Luke’s Gospel is that Jesus didn’t stumble into the desert by accident. He was led there by the Spirit. That means the desert was part of God’s plan, not a detour from it. And when Jesus came out of the desert, He was empowered and ready to step into His ministry.

The same is true for us. Desert seasons may feel uncomfortable and overwhelming, but they are often where God does His deepest work. In the desert, our faith is tested, our character is refined, and our dependence on God is strengthened. James 1:2-4 reminds us to “consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” The desert seasons don’t have to be wasted—they can be a place of preparation.

Look at Joseph, who spent years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Those hidden years in the dungeon weren’t wasted—they were the very place God was shaping his character and preparing him to one day save a nation during famine. Or think of David, anointed as king but forced to spend years on the run from Saul. Living in caves and fleeing for his life must have felt like a desert season, yet it was there that God taught him to depend on Him fully and to lead with humility. Both Joseph and David came out of their deserts: not defeated, but prepared for the incredible purposes God had for their lives. 

So if you find yourself in a desert season today, don’t lose heart. God has not abandoned you—He is preparing you. The dry ground you walk on may very well be the training ground for the next step of your calling. You may enter the desert feeling weak but, like Jesus and by the power of the Spirit, you can come out stronger, bolder, and ready for what God has ahead.