I Choose Today to Be Refined in the Wilderness

What’s holding you back from stepping out in faith toward your calling?

Maybe it’s fear of failing. Maybe it’s that quiet whisper of inadequacy or the uncertainty of what’s ahead, the unknown giants, obstacles, or uphill battles waiting in the distance.

I’ve felt all of those things.

There have been moments when I stepped out in obedience, only to find myself in a wilderness season wondering if I had made a mistake. I missed the predictability of what I left behind, the comfort of knowing what to expect. But every time, it’s been in that wilderness where I’ve learned the most about who God is and who He’s shaping me to become.

God did the same for the Israelites when He brought them out of Egypt:

“He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.” — Deuteronomy 6:23 (AMP)

He didn’t take them straight from slavery to promise. He led them through the wilderness first. The desert was the classroom where dependence, trust, and transformation took root.

And even when they reached the edge of the promise, God said:

“The Lord your God will drive out those nations to make room for you. But He will do it little by little.”
— Deuteronomy 7:22 (NIRV)

Little by little.

Those words remind me that God’s pace is purposeful. He knows what our hearts can handle. If He handed us the entire promise all at once, we wouldn’t be ready to sustain it. The wilderness isn’t punishment, it’s preparation. It’s where God clears away what’s been holding us back and teaches us to rely on Him for what’s ahead.

Yes, there will still be giants to face, battles to fight, and obstacles to overcome. But we don’t face them alone. The same God who brought us out will continue to bring us in, again and again, from glory to glory, from wilderness to promise.

When fear rises or weariness whispers, remember what He’s already done. Remember the Egypt He led you out of. Remember how He’s provided, healed, and carried you before, and know He’ll do it again.

Take hold of His promises. Live courageously, not because you have it all figured out, but because He’s with you wherever you go.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Friend, if you find yourself in a wilderness today, take heart. You’re not lost—you’re being led. The same God who called you out is the One who’s guiding you through.

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Today’s Step:

Ask God to show you one way He’s using your current “wilderness” to prepare you for what’s ahead. Write it down, thank Him for it, and choose to trust His leading—little by little.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for leading me even when the path feels uncertain. Help me trust You in the wilderness seasons and remember that You’re preparing me for what’s next. Strengthen my heart to follow Your voice and to see every step as part of Your promise. Amen.