Wednesday, May 28, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Acts 28

I’ve been waiting for opportunities to come along that match what I’ve prepared for, and it’s testing my patience. This is my current season of wilderness. The delay has caused self-doubt and regret over things I know I can’t change. I’m in a stagnant race. Instead of the tortoise vs. the hare, it’s the tortoise vs. the tortoise, or me vs. my lack of opportunities. To outsiders, it’s hard to tell who is winning.

Thankfully, this isn’t my first wilderness battle. I’ve learned not to compare myself to others, so I am able to joyfully celebrate my peers’ successes. Still, if I spend too much time away from God and forget what this trial offers, I start to rely on past accolades or believe time has passed me by. To get back on track, I only need to think about my other wilderness seasons, look back at how my ancestors handled uncertainty, and study the earliest hardships in the Bible. 

Deuteronomy 8:2
Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.

The Israelites forgot the slavery God had rescued them from and the land he promised to give them. They attempted to slide back into familiarity. They no longer had their enslavers manipulating them into thinking life couldn’t be better, but their situation was definitely harder than it had to be - all because they chose to walk by themselves instead of by faith. The Israelites’ actions reflected their lack of faith, and yet, God continued to protect them throughout their entire journey, even as he tested them.

Your wilderness moments are unique to you. Too often, the world thinks of uniqueness as only good, but part of the meaning is that it is unlike anything else. You enter the wilderness during hardships when your spiritual growth gets tested out of necessity or circumstance. 

Chances are you’ve already made it out of the wilderness before, but maybe you are attempting to do so for the first time. There will be times when you will sink to the ground in despair, but the wilderness humbles, tests, and teaches you that God is always there to pick you up.

Would you rather fall to your knees in defeat … or to pray? 

Questions: 
What is the hardest part of your current wilderness? Do you take time to pray during your wilderness, or do you focus on what you can’t control?

Next Steps: 
Stop navigating life alone by joining a Group this summer semester. The directory opens May 31. Increase your focus on God by setting alarms or adding times to your calendar to pray and read your Bible. Journal your wilderness experiences so you can look back and see how God has brought you through your trials.

Prayer: 
God, I am humbled more than I care to admit – but I’m grateful for it because I can clearly see the change happening within me. It’s a reminder that life is too heavy for me to carry alone. Thank you for lifting my burdens and walking with me. Amen.

This post was written by Jaron Camp, a Findlay attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.