Defining the Wilderness | Identifying your season of struggle or growth
Have you ever found yourself in a space that feels vast, unfamiliar, and deeply unsettling? Maybe you’re walking through a season where the usual clarity is gone, the path forward is foggy, and you feel like you’re wandering emotionally, mentally, spiritually. This feeling of being adrift is something many of us experience at various points in life. Yet, what if the Wilderness you find yourself in is not designed to defeat you, but rather to prepare and shape you for something greater?
I've been there, and honestly, I still find myself there in many ways. The Wilderness has a way of stripping us down to our barest selves, revealing not just our fears and doubts, but also our capacity to endure, to reflect, and to rise. This article isn’t about providing all the answers. It’s about creating space to recognize where you are, what this season might be asking of you, and how you might begin to see it differently.
Let’s explore the concept of the Wilderness, not just as a metaphor, but as a very real experience that shapes who we are becoming.
Understanding the Wilderness
When we think of the Wilderness, we often picture dense forests or barren deserts. But the Wilderness isn’t always physical. More often, it’s a season of life, a space where certainty is replaced by questions, and familiar landmarks disappear, and we feel untethered, unsure of where we belong or what comes next, and the ground has suddenly disappeared beneath your feet.
Many of us have experienced this feeling, whether it’s due to grief, loss, career changes, or deep inner struggles. You might feel stuck in your purpose. You might be questioning your faith, your identity, or your next step. Whatever form your Wilderness takes, it’s marked by that quiet ache of not knowing. It’s the in-between space where your old life no longer fits but your new life hasn’t yet begun. The Wilderness can manifest as confusion, fear, or even isolation. It’s that place where the usual routines and comforts no longer provide security, and the path forward is shrouded in fog.
What if this in-between place isn’t a dead end, but where we are stripped down to our core and invited to discover who we truly are and who we are meant to become.? What if this uncomfortable, disorienting space is exactly where transformation begins?
Divine Patterns: Wilderness in Scripture
The Bible is full of stories where the Wilderness is not a place of punishment, but preparation. The idea of the Wilderness as a place of transformation is deeply rooted in biblical narratives. These stories provide powerful examples of how Wilderness experiences are often divine opportunities for growth and preparation.
Hagar’s Wilderness: Cast out and abandoned, Hagar found herself alone in a barren place. Yet, it was here that she was seen by God in her lowest moments, a reminder that even in isolation, we are not forgotten.
Moses’s Wilderness: After fleeing Egypt, Moses spent forty years in the Wilderness of Midian. Unbeknownst to him, this was a time of preparation, shaping him for the monumental task of leading his people.
The Israelites’ Journey: Their forty years in the desert was more than a physical trek; it was a process of learning obedience, trust, and dependence on God before entering the promised land.
Elijah’s Wilderness: Exhausted and afraid, Elijah fled for his life and found God’s voice not in thunder, but in a gentle whisper, revealing that sometimes, the Wilderness calls us to quiet reflection.
Jesus’s Wilderness: Jesus fasted and was tempted for forty days, emerging ready to embrace his purpose, showing that even the most significant callings often begin in the Wilderness.
These aren’t just historical narratives. They’re mirrors for our own lives, reminders that the Wilderness is where God forms us. They are divine testing grounds, revealing the inner conflicts, desires, and beliefs that have quietly shaped our path. These are refining spaces where we’re stripped down to what’s real; our flaws, our fears, our deepest longings laid bare. It’s where distractions fall away, and we come face-to-face with who we are and who we’re being called to become.
Here, in the quiet aftermath of truth, we decide:
Do we continue down the familiar path that brought us here, or will we move differently, intentionally, courageously?
When You’re In the Middle of It
Not all Wilderness seasons look the same. For some, it might be a season of burnout, where exhaustion clouds every decision. For others, it’s transition, grief, it might be a time of feeling stuck, held back by circumstances beyond their control. or simply the weight of too many unknowns. Some of us are emotionally exhausted, spiritually dry, or deeply afraid that we’re missing something vital.
And sometimes, we don’t even have words for what we’re going through, we just know we’re not okay. Despite the diversity of these experiences, one truth remains constant: in the Wilderness, God is present, working to refine and prepare us. Each challenge offers an opportunity to grow and evolve, even when it doesn’t feel that way in the moment.
Not all growth looks like forward motion. Sometimes growth is stillness. Sometimes it’s the way you keep waking up. The way you don’t quit. The way you start to listen to your soul instead of your fear. Sometimes it’s questioning. Sometimes it’s holding on when you don’t feel strong.
Navigating the Wilderness requires more than endurance. It calls for you to be intentional. To resist the temptation to escape or numb, and lose ourselves in the chaos or give in to despair. Instead, we are invited to plant our feet firmly, breathe deeply, and look around to understand what this unique landscape has to teach us.
What if your Wilderness isn’t something to escape… but something to engage?
The Seasons Within the Wilderness
The Wilderness isn’t a single moment; it’s a season, sometimes lasting days, months, or even years. The Wilderness has rhythms, just like nature. There are moments of thriving and moments of stripping away. Recognizing where you are in your current season can help you stop resisting and begin receiving what this season might be here to teach you.
Seasons of Growth: Some Wilderness seasons feel alive and full of possibility. You feel open, teachable, and reflective. Even in uncertainty, you’re beginning to sense movement. Growth requires discipline, attention, and perseverance.
Seasons of Shedding: Other seasons are about release, shedding old habits, beliefs, or relationships that no longer serve us. These times can be bittersweet, marked by feelings of loss, but they are essential for making space for new growth and opportunities.
Seasons of Hardship and Stillness: Perhaps the most challenging Wilderness seasons are those characterized by pain, loneliness, and uncertainty. Things feel quiet, maybe even barren. But beneath the silence, transformation is quietly taking place. These seasons teach us patience, rest, and the power of stillness.
Seasons of Awakening: A new clarity begins to emerge. You’re not out of the Wilderness yet, but something in you is shifting.
What season are you in right now? And what would happen if you stopped fighting it, and instead started listening to it?
Recognizing Your Current Season: The Power of Awareness
One of the most empowering steps in navigating the Wilderness is recognizing the season you’re in. This awareness allows you to stop resisting your experience and begin to listen to its lessons.
Ask yourself:
What season am I in right now? Is it one of growth, loss, struggle, or stillness?
What is this season teaching me? What lessons are hidden beneath the surface?
How am I being shaped by this experience? What new strength or clarity is emerging?
How can I move through it with grace, patience, and a willingness to grow? What steps can I take toward growth and healing?
Understanding your season is not about labeling your experience as “good” or “bad.” It’s about acknowledging its essence, recognizing the emotions, struggles, and potential growth inherent in each moment.
Common Wilderness Experiences
We don’t always realize we’re in a Wilderness until we feel its weight. But naming it can offer relief and perspective. Here are a few familiar forms Wilderness seasons take, along with the lessons they often hold:
Grief and Loss: Navigating sorrow after losing a loved one or experiencing a significant life change. This season teaches us about vulnerability, acceptance, and the importance of healing.
Struggle and Hardship: Facing obstacles such as financial difficulties, health issues, or personal conflicts. These seasons build resilience and deepen faith.
Addiction and Recovery: Wrestling with dependency and the journey toward sobriety. This season emphasizes the power of surrender, support, and renewal.
Growth and Learning: Times of personal development and acquiring new skills. These seasons encourage curiosity, openness, and transformation.
Peace and Contentment: Experiencing balance and fulfillment. This season reminds us to savor and maintain what we have cultivated.
Isolation and Loneliness: Feeling disconnected and alone. This season challenges us to find strength within and seek meaningful connection.
Transition and Change: Undergoing major life shifts. This season teaches adaptability and trust in the unknown.
Joy and Celebration: Moments of happiness and achievement. This season calls us to gratitude and celebration.
Exploration and Adventure: Discovering new places or aspects of ourselves. This season fosters courage and discovery.
Uncertainty and Confusion: Facing doubt and indecision. This season invites patience and faith.
Healing and Recovery: Focusing on restoring health and wholeness. This season highlights self-care and restoration.
Faith and Spiritual Growth: Deepening spiritual connection. This season nurtures trust and surrender.
Love and Connection: Building meaningful relationships. This season teaches vulnerability and intimacy.
Reflection and Introspection: Looking inward for clarity. This season encourages self-awareness and wisdom.
When the Wilderness Becomes Your Norm
Sometimes the Wilderness lasts so long that it becomes your new normal and it begins to feel like your identity. You forget what lightness feels like. You stop hoping for change. You resign yourself to the fog. This is a common experience, but it’s important to remember that no season defines your entire story.
If that’s where you are, I want to speak directly to that part of you: This isn’t all there is. This isn’t the end of your story.
You may not be able to change your circumstances overnight, but you can shift the way you move through them. For this, intentional effort is needed:
Seek new perspectives that challenge your current mindset.
Embrace the possibility of change, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Reach out for support, whether from friends, mentors, or professionals.
Practice patience and self-compassion as you navigate transitions.
Wilderness Seasons don’t define you, they reveal who you are. And you get to decide what happens next. Your Wilderness season is a chapter, not the whole book. With time and intention, you can grow, evolve, and enter new seasons of life with hope and purpose.
A Gentle Call to Courage and Curiosity
As you stand in your Wilderness unsure, undone, unraveling, and overwhelmed; I want you to know that courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it looks like waking up. Breathing deep. Trying again. Letting go.
Take a deep breath. Embrace where you are right now. This is your journey, unique and vital. While your Wilderness may look different from others', the lessons and growth it offers are universal.
Your Wilderness is not wasted. It’s a place of Becoming.
Let’s move forward not with fear, but with curiosity and courage. Let’s trust that even here, even now, something divine is unfolding.
If you’re looking for tools to support you on your journey, I’ve created a collection of guided journals and resources designed to help you reflect, reset, and realign as you move through your Wilderness season. Each one was thoughtfully crafted to meet you where you are; with compassion, clarity, and encouragement for the road ahead.
Take a moment to visit the Wilderness Journey’s-End Shop. You might just find something that speaks to your season and helps light the next step of your path.
Remember, no matter how uncertain the path may seem, there is always a way through.
“The Wilderness isn’t just a place we pass through. It’s where transformation happens.”
May your journey through the Wilderness be one of discovery, growth, and profound transformation.
If this message resonated with you, I invite you to watch the full video where I dive deeper into the heart of this conversation. You can find it below.