LESSONS LEARNED IN THE WILDERNESS

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One of my favorite places I've ever been to is The Algonquin Provincial Park in Canada. Each time I've been there it's been a time of my soul being refreshed and deep connection with God.  

So many times when I tell someone how much I love being in the Algonquin, I get looks of "Really?!" "Are you crazy?" "How could anyone possibly enjoy that?"
It is seriously one of my favorite places but also one of the hardest places to be. 

Some things that I learned while in the wilderness …

Hearing the voice of God in the wilderness is powerful. 
One one trip I had a conversation with Him about the weather while I was spending time with him at the first campsite. His response to me asking for good weather was, “I will give you what you need”. This concerned me a little but didn’t scare me. In the end, He really did give us exactly what we needed… at the right time and the right place. It was amazing to watch Him move through his creation. 

God’s creativity is above and beyond what we can ever imagine.
Being in the wilderness and seeing his creation can take you to a place of being in awe of his glory and majesty. I had no idea there were so many shades of green. Coming out of the wilderness and seeing the turning of the leaves into beautiful colors is breathtaking. It was all around us. Being in the middle of a large lake with the mist coming off the water and surrounded by trees of all kinds is simply stunning. 

Obedience to God is vital in my walk with him. 
Being obedient is hard sometimes! Each time that I've gone on a wilderness trip, I didn't want to leave the comfort of my own home. I like the comforts of my warm, dry home … with a clean bathroom and a comfy bed available at any time. 
When I go to the Algonquin, I don't feel like I am physically fit enough to carry a 35# backpack plus a 40# canoe on my shoulders through the woods. Canoeing for miles on top of that feels like too much. Even as I don’t always want to go, I know that I need to go.  
Obedience has felt really hard each time that I've gone on a wilderness trip. In the end it was always more than worth it. God has always shown up and honored my obedience to him.  

Our physical strength isn't always enough to get through the tough times. 
We also need mental and spiritual strength. There were countless times when I asked God to give me strength. He always did. There are times when my physical body didn’t want to do it anymore. I didn’t know that I had enough strength and endurance to keep going. 
We can do all things through Christ ... if we let him help us. This is a decision, a choice. Will I do it on my own or allow Him to give me the strength that I need to get through the wall of “I can’t do this!”? The feeling of being on the other side of that wall is indescribable! There is nothing like it. I felt like I could do anything. It’s not always easy to stay on the other side of the wall, but I’ve learned that it’s a choice. 

Life is much like the Algonquin. It's a wilderness. It's hard way too much of the time. It's how we respond while being in the wilderness that matters. 
  • It starts with listening to the voice of God. His voice is what leads us. It's what we connect with. 
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.
John 10:27
  • See God for who he is. He is powerful and He is kind and compassionate towards those who love, honor and respect him. 
The Lord is like a father to his children, 
tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 
Psalm 103:13
  • As God speaks to us and shows us who he is, we then need to be obedient to our Heavenly Father. He is the One who knows what is best for us. We should want what he has for us - blessing. That comes through obedience to Him. 
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the 
word of God and put it into practice.” 
Luke 11:28
  • Leaning into His strength as we choose obedience brings blessing. Obedience isn't always easy. Sometimes it comes with a cost. For me in the wilderness, it was a choice - even if it was painful. 
The Lord is my strength and my song. He has given me victory.
Psalm 118:14



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