As we start a new year, often we spend a lot of time thinking about new beginnings and what’s next, but often at this time of year it can feel so bleak with it being dark so much of the time and as I’m a summer person, the endless coldness gets to me! But there is something about winter and winter seasons in our lives that brings us closer to God. 

As I was thinking about examples of this in the bible I was inundated with people I could talk about. Overr the next few weeks I want to look at four in particular. Starting today with Joseph, then David and Elijah and finishing with our ultimate example Jesus. 

You may think this is a bleak subject at a bleak time of year, but I want to give you good news. We have one who will lead us through the wilderness, through the desert, and give us hope. Song of Songs 8:5 says – Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? We, the beloved, can lean on the One who is able to bear our burdens and wipe away every tear. 

So let’s start with Joseph. He has an easy start to life. Born to Jacob’s favourite wife, he was much loved and much wanted. His problems began when God spoke to him through dreams and he lacked the tact to hold his tongue and wait to see what happened. A lesson we could all learn from time to time! 

This resulted in the first of two wilderness seasons for Joseph. The first was on his journey to Egypt. He would have walked, literally through a desert to get there. He must have felt totally abandoned by God and his family. How awful to have all that stripped away from you and to suddenly face a future filled with uncertainty. When he arrives in Egypt, he is no longer a favoured son, but a slave sold to a rich Egyptian. 

Can you imagine how this felt? He could have become bitter, chosen to walk away from God, whom he must have felt had walked away from him. But Joseph chose to hold on to God and worked for His glory. The result was that he was given a position of responsibility within the household.  

Then we have his second wilderness season, which made the first seem like a walk in the park. He’s falsely accused of assaulting his master’s wife and put in prison. This time, he has the torment of knowing his master had trusted him and has been perceived as betraying him. In Genesis 39:20-23 we see again that even in this dire situation, Joseph clings to God’s steadfast love. 

While in this prison wilderness, he meets two men and is gifted to interpret their dreams, all he asks in return is to be remembered. Even this request isn’t granted for another two years. Two years of waiting. Two years of wilderness, hope deferred. 

During that time we don’t know what he did. All that’s said is that God is with Him and grants him success in all he does. So even in that place of not knowing his future, of having no idea what was next, he stayed faithful to the God of his Father. 

After two years, he’s finally summoned before Pharaoh to interpret a dream and is able to do it with God’s help. He claims no glory for himself but is given it by Pharoah. 

This is the point at which you think the story ends happily ever after, and in a way it does, but first we see the fruit of his years in prison as he meets his brothers. When he reveals himself to them, he embraces them. He tells them it was God who sent him to Egypt, not them. 

He spent his wilderness years getting closer to God so that when faced with those who had caused him pain and separated him from his family; he can forgive and see God’s hand in all that has happened. 

So when you’re facing times of wilderness, rather than running from God or allowing your heart to get hard, draw close to Him. Look for areas where you can see His hand. He has promised to never leave you or forsake you. If you don’t know what’s next, wait on Him, serve where you are, love the people around you. 

Hold on to Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Not as an empty platitude but as a truth that you can cling to. Seek first His Kingdom and wait to see His goodness come to pass.