When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  – 1 Corinthians 13:11

     Life’s experiences come to teach and move us to the next level of our lives. Like the children of Israel, God allows us to pass through some wilderness but He does not intend for us to stay there. Wilderness can be a training ground for a trial or strengthening of one’s character to build their faith; or a dry place to dwell for a period of time for our rebuke, correction and return to God or turn away from rebelliousness.  The devil sends enemies of mankind’s destiny that will cause men to be thrown into the wilderness.  Men can also throw themselves into the wilderness by disobeying God.  More importantly, men can also lead the people who God has assigned them to lead, into the wilderness right along with themselves if they are not obedient and following God as they should. In the Garden of Eden, it was Eve that the devil first deceived.  Today, many men are being deceived by their misunderstanding of the leadership role that God bestowed upon them in Garden of Eden on that fateful day.

        No matter what circumstance drive us into the wilderness, God says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. By God’s grace, we don’t have to stay in the wilderness forever and He makes a way out because He has prepared a better place for us.  Wilderness is defined as wastelands, a harsh environment, etc.  It is uncultivated wild lands where no vegetation and uncontrollable weeds grow. The bible indicates references to “wilderness” as being a physical place or a style of living. It also suggests that it is a form of discipline for people to repent and return back to God.  It symbolizes an unproductive life; a life full of shameful experiences, pity and sorrow; a life without genuine love; an ingratitude heart; emptiness; servitude; pain and torture; etc.

     God is man’s ever present help and to come out of the wilderness, get an understanding and assume his God-given leadership role the way God intended for man.  To come out of the wilderness, men should:

• Acknowledge the supremacy of God and invite Him into every situation and circumstance in their life.
• Be humble and sincere to admit their wrongs.  Acknowledge you don’t know everything and stop pointing accusing fingers at everybody or everything else.
• Do not take pride and arrogance because of your leadership role, but rather accept it with full responsibility and accountability to those who God placed under your authority to lead. Remember – you are ultimately accountable to God for yourself and those who He has assigned to you to lead.
• Pray and declare your helplessness to God. Ask Him to teach you how to lead yourself and others.  Go beyond prayer and seek God’s face, His presence and His will.  In other words, seek a deeper relationship with God and become more Christ-like so you can understand how to lead others to Him.
• Repent, follow the scriptures, obey, serve and submit to Him daily and set an example for others to follow.  Show forth the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23, “. . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. . .”
• Acknowledge that you are called by His name and put a demand on the grace upon your life, your family, your church, your community and society.