[GUEST BLOG by Angie Gonzales]

As I was trying to “get through” some things today, I remembered the passage of Jesus being led into the wilderness to be tempted, and I thought to myself, “To what degree does this compare to our daily lives?”

Or does it even compare? Haven’t we, as Christians, been delivered from the wilderness? What exactly is the wilderness? And why was Jesus led into it?

And why didn’t He just destroy it once He was there?

Matthew 4:1 reads, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Notice He was “led by the spirit.” In other words, he was equipped to handle the wilderness through the spirit—the power of truth!

I think it is safe to say the wilderness represents all darkness, evil, lies, pain, betrayal, or any other attack of the enemy. Do you get the picture?

But why was Jesus led into the wilderness? And why didn’t He choose to overcome it and destroy it once and for all?

Many of us have faced wilderness experiences on more than one occasion. But why? Hasn’t Jesus already overcome all of this for us? YES HE HAS! So the answer is: when we are “led by the spirit” we also have the power to destroy the wilderness and madness just as Jesus did!

In other words, when you overcome something again and again, you eventually destroy it! We must remember that we always have a choice whether we’re going to remain in the wilderness or press through and possess the promise land. But sadly, many Christians find themselves in the land of: “Which promise is mine?”

Because they don’t know God’s Word, their confusion becomes a wilderness. But as we meditate on God’s Word and His promises for our life, the “Spirit of truth” can come in to lead us “out” of the wilderness. He helps us learn to how to overcome and destroy our adversary! Then we can rightfully possess all that belongs to us through Jesus Christ!

And ALL of Gods promises are YES AND AMEN!

John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” The devil will never stop fighting us, but we can keep him from winning!

Take a moment and think of things you’ve been delivered from, and most importantly, what you were delivered into! Remember, Jesus was tempted with every possible thing you can imagine (perhaps even things you haven’t even faced yet), but doesn’t knowing that He overcame it all give you hope that you too shall overcome?

Jesus didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves. He left us His word, His power, and the Holy Spirit to guide us. But it is up to us to follow. So the next time you find yourself going through something, please do just that… go through it!

Don’t allow yourself to become comfortable. Instead, pick up your lamp and see your way into the promises of God. The Psalmist said it well:

“By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. Festoon me with your finest sayings, God; teach me your holy rules. My life is as close as my own hands, but I don’t forget what you have revealed. The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don’t swerve an inch from your course. I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
what a gift! And how happy it makes me! I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
I always have and always will” (Psalm 119:105-112, MSG).

Jesus was led into the wilderness to demonstrate the very power of God’s Word and to show us the way out. So whatever you’ve been through or are going through right now, remember, God was faithful then and He’ll be faithful again… through and through!

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the inner depths of his heart” (Proverbs 20:27).

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