Most of us don’t volunteer for the wilderness. We don’t ask for seasons of uncertainty, waiting, disappointment, or unanswered questions. We’d much rather skip ahead to the Promised Land than wander through the desert. Yet, throughout Scripture, God repeatedly chooses the wilderness as the place where He reveals Himself most clearly.
That was one of the most encouraging insights from our recent conversation with author and Bible teacher Katy Epling as we discussed her new Bible study, Encountering Yahweh: How God Forms His People in the Wilderness — A Study of Exodus 1-18. One statement from our conversation especially stayed with us:
The wilderness isn’t always punishment. Often, it’s formation.
Meeting the God Who Is Both Near and Mighty
Katy beautifully described what has most captivated her about God while studying Exodus. He is both transcendent and personal. He is powerful enough to rule over every circumstance, yet intimate enough to meet us in the middle of our ordinary Tuesday afternoon. If He were only powerful, He might feel distant. If He were only near, He wouldn’t be able to rescue us. But Scripture reveals a God who is both. That truth changes everything when we’re walking through difficult seasons.
The Wilderness Exposes—and Forms
The Israelites left Egypt free from slavery, yet they didn’t immediately arrive in the Promised Land. Instead, God led them into the wilderness. Why? Because freedom isn’t only about leaving something behind. It’s about becoming someone new. The wilderness exposed their fears, their idols, their dependence on themselves—and slowly taught them to depend on God.
The same is true for us. Our wilderness seasons often reveal what we’re trusting. Are we relying on our plans? Our abilities? Our comfort? Or are we learning to trust the God who faithfully provides, even when we can’t yet see the destination?
The Importance of Daily Rhythms
One of our favorite moments in the conversation came when Katy compared spiritual formation to marathon training. You don’t prepare for a marathon by running one. You prepare through countless ordinary runs long before race day. Likewise, we don’t suddenly develop deep trust in the middle of a crisis. Trust is cultivated through daily rhythms:
- Opening God’s Word.
- Spending time in prayer.
- Choosing silence over constant noise.
- Learning to listen.
- Walking faithfully with Him one ordinary day at a time.
Those habits become spiritual reserves when life becomes difficult.
We Are Set Free for Something Greater
Another powerful insight from Exodus is that God didn’t simply rescue Israel from slavery. He rescued them for worship. Freedom in Christ is never merely the absence of bondage. It’s the invitation into joyful relationship with God. We are set free so we can walk with Him, know Him, and reflect His character to the world.
Every Encounter Matters
Sometimes we expect every quiet time to feel extraordinary. But Katy offered a refreshing perspective. Not every encounter with God will be dramatic. Many are wonderfully ordinary. Just as a healthy marriage is built through thousands of everyday conversations—not only milestone moments—our relationship with God grows through faithful, consistent encounters with Him.
Every prayer.
Every page of Scripture.
Every moment of surrender.
Every act of obedience.
They all deepen the relationship.
The Invitation
Maybe you’re in a wilderness today. You feel uncertain. You’re waiting. You’re wondering what God is doing. We encourage you to take heart. The wilderness may not be where you wanted to go, but it may be exactly where God wants to meet you. He isn’t simply trying to get you through the wilderness. He’s using it to reveal more of Himself—and to form more of Christ within you. The wilderness is not wasted. It is holy ground because Yahweh (God’s personal name for Himself) is there.
Next steps
What daily rhythm could you begin this week that would help you encounter God more consistently—not only in the wilderness, but in every season of life? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Meanwhile, hop on over to our YouTube channel to watch our full interview by clicking here: https://youtu.be/WZpXphJnnb0
