When Life Seems Aimless, Part 3

We are working our way through a mini-series on strategies for enduring the wilderness wanderings of life, following the example of Caleb who ​had "a different spirit" in "follow[ing] [God] fully" (Numbers 14:24), even through the 40-year holding pattern he endured. (Part 1, Part 2)

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STRATEGY 2 — EXPRESS IN PRAYER

​Yesterday, I took more time examining our first strategy because I believe that our emotions and actions will follow our thoughts and beliefs. We must think rightly so that we might have a different spirit in fully following God into and through our wilderness wandering. Thinking rightly starts with evaluating, and perhaps adjusting, our perspective (strategy #1). A second strategy for handling the seemingly aimless times of life is to express it in prayer.

1.  Talk to God (Philippians 4:6-8).

Turn your anxieties into prayer requests (Philippians 4:6-8) and cast your cares upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). Talk with God about your hopes and dreams, your disappointments and frustrations, your impatience and burdens. But make sure that your prayer always cycles through to obedient trust (Luke 22:42).

Casting the cares of your wilderness wandering upon the Lord will focus your dependency, adjust your perspective, and equip you with the necessary spiritual resources to endure it (James 5:16b-18).

And as you pray, do so with expectancy, taking heart that however long the waiting might have to be, God will act in His time. David writes in Psalm 40:1-3, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” So pray and don’t despair!

2.  Talk to others (Ecclesiastes 4:19-25).

In addition to expressing your burden in prayer, express it to other people in Christian community. Let others bear your burden with you (Galatians 6:2) that that you might be encouraged and revived (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). We’re all tempted to waver (Hebrews 10:19-25) and doubt (Hebrews 3:13). So draw upon God’s community to strengthen and establish you in your wilderness (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:14).