Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 
_{Matthew 4:1}

I’m in a foreign place, without the education to understand what’s happening, and completely out of control of my daily living. It’s a moment-by-moment existence without the familiarity of a rhythm or schedule. There’s no use for a calendar or making plans. Funny how attached I am to these things.

It leaves me wondering how I ended up in this wilderness. Where did I take a wrong turn, veer off course, or get distracted to the point I’m smack in the middle of this barren place? Surely this is a mistake. God certainly doesn’t want me here, does he?

And then I read holy words, “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness…”

Wait… what? Jesus didn’t happen to be in the wilderness by mistake. He was led there by the Spirit.

Could it be?
Is it possible?
I’ve been led here too?

It reminds me of Lent. The simple practice of contemplating the suffering Jesus did for us. How he bled and died to take away our sin. His whole life was a wilderness, light-years away from the infinite, glorious home he left in heaven.

God confined himself
to skin and muscle
a beating heart
breathing lungs
all to make a way
in the wilderness
for me
and you.

So… perhaps I was led to this wilderness just like Jesus.

Somehow the idea brings peace in the midst of this wild, untamed place. For if the Spirit led us here, then the same Spirit will surely see us through.

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
_{Isaiah 43:1-2 NIV}