And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. Luke 4:1-2 ESV

Before Jesus began His public ministry, the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be alone for forty days. Though most of us will never spend 40 days alone in the wilderness, God sometimes chooses times of isolation in our lives.

These may be unexpected events which we could never have imagined or a sudden change in our health. But whatever the circumstance it is most important to remember that the value of our own wilderness experience lies not in what we are suffering but in what we are learning from the Holy Spirit. But no matter the testing or the wilderness, the most important thing is that in the quietness of our time alone, we learn to hear the voice of God for ourselves. Only He will lead us “not into temptation” and then maybe even tomorrow out of the wilderness and into the next chapter He has planned for our life!