The Wildeness: A school of Trust . Sister Suni Roy

The Wildeness: A school of Trust 

Learning to fully rely on God is the work of a lifetime. This journey unfolds through miracles, wonders, and seasons of trials that allow us to experience God’s character more deeply. After all, you cannot fully trust someone you do not know. As we walk with Him, God reveals His faithfulness, goodness, holiness, and unfailing love. He calls us to rely on Him completely, without leaning on our own understanding and without giving in to complaint.

This truth is clearly seen in the Israelites’ wilderness journey. Their journey began with a remarkable display of God’s presence. He sheltered them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. With God visibly leading them, they had every reason to trust Him.

Yet their confidence quickly faltered when Pharaoh and his army pursued them. Trapped between the advancing Egyptians and the Red Sea, fear overwhelmed them. Their focus shifted from God’s presence above them to the danger surrounding them. Though they cried out to God, their cries were filled with doubt, anxiety, and complaint. They even declared that it would have been better to remain slaves in Egypt than to die in the wilderness.

While Moses encouraged them to “stand firm,” God instructed them to move forward in faith. As they obeyed, God parted the Red Sea, delivered His people, and destroyed their enemies. In response, Moses and Miriam lifted their voices in worship:

“Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” — Exodus 15:11

However, only three days later, their song of victory gave way to another crisis. At Marah, they found only bitter water and began to complain. The miracle of the Red Sea was quickly forgotten. Yet God, in His mercy, made the bitter water sweet.

Later, when hunger arose, they grumbled again. Still, God graciously provided manna from heaven and quail for food. When thirst returned, they questioned whether God was truly among them. Yet once more, God showed mercy by bringing water from the rock and sustaining them in the wilderness.

A pattern emerged throughout their journey. Instead of remembering God’s faithfulness, they focused on their difficulties. Rather than trusting Him for the future, they longed for the familiar comforts of Egypt. They forgot the bondage they had been delivered from and remembered only the food they once enjoyed. The familiarity of the past seemed more appealing than trusting God for what lay ahead.

As a result, the first generation that left Egypt never learned to fully trust God. Despite witnessing extraordinary miracles, they repeatedly returned to fear, doubt, and rebellion. Consequently, they never entered the Promised Land.

Yet there is hope in this story. While the first generation failed the test, the wilderness became a place of preparation for their children. Through the lessons learned in the wilderness, the next generation developed a deeper trust and dependence on God and ultimately entered the land of Canaan.

The same can be true in our lives. Sometimes God allows a longer journey because He is teaching us to trust Him more deeply. Our circumstances may not always be favorable, but they are often part of God’s process of shaping our faith and leading us according to His purpose.

Many times, fear of the unknown and attachment to past comforts keep us from stepping forward in faith. The more we resist trusting God, the more difficult the journey can seem. Yet the wilderness is not a place of abandonment—it is a place of transformation. It is where God teaches us to depend on Him fully.

What feels like a setback may actually be God’s preparation for a greater purpose. Therefore, let us resist the temptation to complain and to drift away from His promises. Instead, let every trial strengthen our faith in Christ Jesus.

As we journey through life’s wilderness seasons, may we remember His goodness, trust His promises, and follow His leading without fear. And when He brings us through every trial and into His purposes, may our hearts respond as Moses and Miriam did:

“Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” — Exodus 15:11

May our lives continually declare that there is no one like our God.

Stay blessed 😊

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