You know, I always deeply appreciate Jesus followers who are honest about the challenges of the spiritual life. Without falling into those cliches or platitudes that leave us empty, Faith Eury Cho speaks beautifully about the wilderness of the soul. As Faith reminds us, experiencing friendship with God, rather than reaching a destination, is God’s exquisite purpose for those difficult seasons. It is a privilege to welcome Faith to my porch….

Guest Post by Faith Eury Cho

I had been a preacher of the Good News for years. Yet when my son was born struggling to breathe and was whisked away for tests before I could hold even him, I felt desperate for the faith I used to take for granted.

“It is profound how a moment that strikes just the right nerve can unveil the fragility of one’s trust in God. “

It is profound how a moment that strikes just the right nerve can unveil the fragility of one’s trust in God. 

As we prayed for our son’s healing in the intensive care unit, I cried out again and again: Why would God allow this? What was the purpose of this darkness? 

I was ready to forfeit. The sorrow was so deep and the fear was so demanding that I could only interpret this situation as God’s abandonment. It did not feel as if He was there, and even if He was, it was not enough for me.

What if faith bears no visible results during despairing times? What, then, is the point of faith?

It is usually a weary soul who asks these questions. A soul that aches for what is true and what is real. 

“… what if the purpose of the wilderness in our lives was the same as it was for the Israelites: not to reach a destination but to draw closer to the Presence of God?“

In retrospect, this hospital experience with my son later allowed me to resonate with the pain of those who walk out of churches or change religions and shut the door on Jesus. The truth is, from now until heaven, the harsh realities of life will constantly challenge our reasons to believe in God.

Maybe today you are at the same juncture that I was while in the hospital with my child under a breathing machine: Disillusioned. Burned out. Alone in the wilderness of the soul.

The wilderness is a familiar scene in the Bible. Hagar cried there as she helplessly waited to lose her son to thirst. Elijah prayed for death there while fear exhausted him. Jesus renounced the devil there, while tempted and alone.

For the Israelites, the wilderness was an eleven-day trip that took forty years. They had abandoned the rule of Pharoah in Egypt to trust the rule of Yahweh, their God, hoping for a better lot in life. They left all they had ever known to cross the Red Sea to freedom.

That freedom, though, was not a convenient, predictable journey that instantaneously led them to greener pastures. Instead, they followed Yahweh into the unknown. They believed they would one day reach “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). But on the way there they faced oppressive heat, desolate wasteland, and growing restlessness. It must have been hard to nurture a dream along the way and even harder to find a purpose.

“God does not wish to offer us shadows of the real thing. He offers us Himself. “

If you are experiencing a wilderness of the soul, you know this desolation, this longing for meaning. Few understand your journey and you wonder if God is one of those who has turned away. You fear you are walking in circles—if God has forgotten His promises. 

But what if the purpose of the wilderness in our lives was the same as it was for the Israelites: not to reach a destination but to draw closer to the Presence of God?

We were never meant to look towards the universe for signs and hope for its random mercies. God does not wish to offer us shadows of the real thing. He offers us Himself.  

You can know the Presence of God no matter what season you are in. You can befriend Him just as you are. Drawing close to God is not for the super-Christians who have a special calling to hear His voice. It is definitely not just for the ones who rarely sin or the ones who do a lot of good.

“As you endure this wilderness of the soul, know that there is something greater than your destination. Here is where you will find a hope. A reward. A purpose. A companion. Here is where you will find His Presence.“

• 1. The Presence of God has been made available for everyone who wants Him. Jesus made sure of it. This gives us great hope.

• 2. The Presence of God is good news for the failure. If you are still muddling through the wreckage of your mistakes, have hope. He is with you, and in Him is unending grace. You do not have to clean the mess before you approach Him. He can be found now, and He has mercy for you.

• 3. The Presence of God is good news for the broken and disappointed. If your wilderness feels like an unending desert today, you may find your faith to be tired and your heart empty of compassion. Your soul is parched. You have no more songs to sing and no prayers to pray. Have hope. He is with you still. His friendship is an oasis. Allow His words to water your soul. 

• 4. The Presence of God is good news for the marginalized. If you are in the wilderness because you are unfairly treated or overlooked, know this—the Presence of God determines the impact of your life. The significance of your life is not dependent on those with power and connections. The Presence of God will determine where you will end up, no matter what walls stand before you.

As you endure this wilderness of the soul, know that there is something greater than your destination. Here is where you will find a hope. A reward. A purpose. A companion.

Here is where you will find His Presence. 

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{ Our humble thanks to WaterBrook for their partnership in today’s devotional. }

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