Lessons from the Wilderness: Hagar • Ps Craig Clark

A wilderness sometimes can make us feel like we're moving forward, or like we're moving forward, but we don't feel like we're moving anywhere.

It's like we're taking a wrong turn, or often there's maybe even a sense of loss or confusion.

There's a struggle, a deficiency, a dryness.

Maybe there's a lack of purpose and direction.

We felt like one season we're in purpose, now what's actually going on? Where are we going with this? We've got desires that have been unfulfilled and we're kind of left heart sick as our hope has been depleted.

And we're going, God, what is going on in this moment? Moments where in worship we could just always sense his presence and now all of a sudden it feels like, God, are you there? Anyone had those moments? Maybe things come and sideswipe us like health challenges or job loss or maybe we're leasing and our house gets moved from us and things start going upside down and you're going, God, what's going on? Where are you in all of this? Maybe it's a time where God's pruning us without perspective, and it feels like punishment, but he's actually saying, I want you to be more fruitful.

Maybe it's living faith-filled, but seemingly, in a sense, naturally, you feel like you're going backwards.

Can I just say, a wilderness is not a detour from our destiny.

It's actually where our destiny deepens.

It's actually where we go to a deeper level.

Can I just be clear, though? A wilderness isn't, a wilderness isn't bad or slow internet connection.

Like I know this generation in the room right now that goes, nah, Craig, that's real, man.

That's real, that's real.

Just putting it out there.

We live in a world that likes to dramatize things and make things harder than they are.

It's not going to a cafe and then not having the alternative milk that you're wanting and you have to settle for soy.

That's not a wilderness.

Although that is definitely a thorn in your side.

You know, it's not having to wait a whole week for your next episode from your favorite series to come out.

That's, I know it's, when it's like, what, you stopped there? And I gotta wait seven days? That's not a wilderness.

That's just a week, all right? That's a week.

But I can confirm 100% that it is the life of an Essendon Bombers supporter, all right? That is a wilderness.

Loss, struggle, deficiency, no direction.

All right, so you're just wondering, okay, yes, no, that's a wilderness, so talk to a bomber supporter.

But today we're gonna have lots of lessons, actually 12 in fact, 12 lessons.