Be Patient and Trust the Lord – Lessons Learned in Wilderness Times, part 2

SERIES: Wilderness Lessons

Can you have patience and trust in God when everything is falling apart? This message teaches the importance of patience and trust in God; plus, learn the key to patience in the Lord.

Feeling alone, deserted, empty, or vulnerable? This could be described as a season of wilderness. A wilderness season of life is the place where we can grow spiritually and learn about ourselves and God Almighty through the testing of our faith. Wilderness times are often very difficult times and are not desirable. Times of trials, testing, and temptations. However, the wilderness can become a place where you grow spiritually and learn of God, as you seek to depend on the Lord. It is often a place where you will witness the hand of God in your life. It is a place where you learn about yourself. It is a place where you learn of God’s blessing and presence.

This series explores what a wilderness season is, why God allows these seasons, and what should you do when you are experiencing a severe wilderness season.

Be Patient and Trust the Lord in Your Wilderness Seasons of Life

When you find yourself in difficult wilderness season in life, look for the grace of God. Allow the grace of God to be evident in your life. Do not be quick to exit the wilderness season. Instead seek the Lord and listen for his voice. There is a reason you are experiencing the wilderness. A reason that only the Lord may know. As we learned last week, the spirit of God leads Jesus into the wilderness. The spirit of God may lead you into the wilderness as he did Jesus. Remember, God knows where you are and he is with you during those wilderness seasons of life.

Choose each day to:

Live with the grace of God in your heart.

Live each day with the grace of God on your lips.

Live each day with the grace of God displayed by your actions.

Seek the Lord with all your heart and press in to know him for who he is, and he will direct your steps.

Choose to seek him for who he is, the sovereign Lord and creator of the universe, rather than only seeking him to fulfill your desires along life’s journey.

Last we learned that a wilderness season is often a deserted place, a dry and lonely place, a place of painful solitude and a place of testing at times. We saw last week how a wilderness season can occur in all sorts of lonely places, but they can also occur while living in a city, walking in a crowd, working in a workplace, and when you are with friends.

Wilderness seasons in life often come just prior to God’s blessing. It comes with a time of testing and learning of oneself and of God’s provision and faithfulness to those who seek and trust him.

We learned last week that the first point regarding wilderness seasons in life is that it is a time of testing. The enemy will try to trip you up and get you to turn your back on God. Stand firm on the promises of God’s word.

Know that God’s blessing, plan, and provision is ahead. Trust him and allow your faith to arise.

This morning we are diving a bit deeper into life in the wilderness. Wilderness seasons of life are rarely fun times. They are most likely trying times. Some are worse than others but know that wilderness seasons are not beyond what you can handle.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

The point I want to make this morning is to be patient. Be patient in wilderness seasons. Wait on the Lord. Look to the Lord and know he is there with you. Do not be in a rush to act when you find yourself in a wilderness season, instead be patient and listen for the Lord direction. Wait for his timing, knowing his word is a guiding light on how to live each day.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).

David knew God’s word, but in 1 Samuel 24 David learned that the word of God can be twisted at times to do as one wishes.

• There are many down the ages starting with the devil, who have twisted the word of God to say what they want.

• Others deny the word of God.

• Still others have misunderstood the word, they do not have a full understanding of the word and apply only the portion that works for them at that moment, ignoring the timing or purpose of God’s word.

“After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way” (1 Samuel 24:1-7).

In 1 Samuel 24 we see David is a good example of someone who is being patient and not acting on worldly, selfish impulses. Davids’s men wanted David to rush ahead of God and kill Saul. They attempted to tell David that God directed Saul into the cave so David could kill Saul and end Saul’s pursuit on David and his men’s lives.

David had a choice at that moment. To honor God and trust him 100% or take Saul’s life and allow revenge, hatred, and unrighteousness to rule his heart. Later in scripture we read how Saul recognizes David as a righteous man and one who deserved to be king and shepherd the people of God. David waited on the Lord and was patient in that wilderness season of his life.

Let me set the stage.

In 1 Samuel 17 David kills Goliath. Saul invites David to stay with him but in chapter 18 we learn that King Saul feels threatened by David’s success and the people of God started to look to David. It is here that Saul begins to fear David and Saul’s hatred of David begins to take root in Saul’s heart. Saul’s pride and anger towards David opened the door to his hatred of David, allowing evil to enter Saul’s heart and Saul attempts to spear David and kill him.

In Chapters 19-23, David is being pursued by Saul and his army to kill David. David is on the run for his life and men who knew David follow his leadership.

Have you ever felt like you did nothing wrong, but now you are being wronged by others unjustly? This is how David must have felt. How would you feel if you were David? Would you want to get even? What would you do if another person encouraged you to get even? Would you wrong a person because they wronged you? This is what David’s men encouraged David to do to Saul.

David is being pursued by Saul and thousands of his men to kill him without cause. David had done nothing wrong. You may have done nothing wrong but now someone is out to harm you and your family.

What would you do? This is exactly what David was experiencing in 1 Samuel 24

At times in wilderness seasons of life, things may not appear so clear. Life can appear blurry at times. Situations are not always as they might appear, and a hasty action can be the worst thing you can do.

In 1 Samuel 24, Davids’s men encouraged David to act and take revenge against Saul.

Like David’s men, some people might say, “now is your chance. Get even. Give the person what is coming to them.” However, if the person is wronging you, is it right to do to them the wrong as they have done to you? I think not.

I have been amazed several times over the years regarding how some people have responded to others who caused a loved one’s death. They extended grace toward the offender. They forgave the person for their actions even as they were dealing with the awful pain and sorrow of the moment. The person chose to trust God during their own wilderness season and sorrow of loss. On this occasion the wife of the person killed said that her husband would have wanted her to forgive the person.

Both the offender and the one who experienced the loss of her husband were experiencing a wilderness season in their lives. Rather than demanding revenge, she and her family chose to extend God’s grace to the other person. With the hope that the other person would respond positively and be saved. It would have been understandable for her to demand justice but she chose to extend God’s grace rather than act out of revenge, worldly sorrow or anger.

Be patient in times of wilderness. Wait on the Lord and do what you know is right. Honor God. Trust him with all your heart. Be a living example of God’s love, compassion and grace to others. Allow God to be your defense. Know his timing is perfect.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:5-8).

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46:1-3).

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).

Know the word of God. The word of God is one of the spiritual weapons that every believer possesses and has at their disposal to use against the enemy and every temptation. It will divide the truth from error. The word of God will guide you and instruct you in how you should live.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).

In Eph 6:11-17 we can find the complete list regarding the full armor of God. As believers in Christ, you are in a spiritual battle. In a spiritual battle you will need spiritual weapons to combat the enemy of your soul. The word of God being the sword of the spirit is just one piece of the armor of God. The other pieces of the armor of God are the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, and the gospel of peace. The spiritual armor of God is how a person can stand firm against the candy-coated temptations and tricks of the enemy.

Hold fast to your faith in Christ. Stand firm in faith while walking in different seasons of wilderness. Always remembering God’s grace, his faithfulness and promised provision to you.

We learned last week from Matthew 4 that Jesus used the word of God to confront each of the three different temptations the devil used to entice Jesus to sin. Every temptation you will ever face is addressed in the word of God. Wait upon the Lord. Be patient in times of testing and allow the truth of God’s word to keep you secure in your faith.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Ephesians 6:14).

The temptation to act first and consider the cost later can be costly. That is exactly what the enemy of your soul is banking on. The enemy of your soul will try to entice you with worldly pleasures and or the satisfaction of the moment, leaving out the cost.

I’m sure each of you have walked into a car dealer and seen the new cars. The salesperson will tell you all the great reasons you should buy the car. They will have you test drive the car. The salesperson convinces you that you want and need this new car. They get you approved for a car loan and no payments for sixty days. But they did not tell you, your car insurance will cost you more. The car registration will be much higher when it comes due, next year. You will need to take the car in for regular service for the warranty to remain in service. Then the loan payment begins. The payment was promised not to be that high but to get the lower payment you had to agree to a higher interest and have a 7-year car loan. But you have a new car for now.

Maybe you buy a house with an adjustable loan. You stretched to your budget to get the house you want. The rates have been low, and the loan officer says don’t worry, the rates should stay low. But the rates start going up and up. The economy has changed, and everything costs much more and now the payments are too much. The realter and loan officer did not warn you of the disadvantages of adjustable home loans. If you had started with a smaller home. The price would have been less and the loan would have been a smaller amount and there would be no need to have an adjustable interest rate loan. You could have worked up to the home you wanted, things might have been different. But they did not tell you any of that stuff. They wanted to make the sale and now you are paying the cost of doing something when you should have been patient and waited. But you have a house for now.

David’s men encouraged David to avenge Saul’s actions. They did not take into consideration what the action of killing Saul might mean. They did not consider the spiritual cost later, they only viewed the situation from a worldly perspective. Remember Saul was God’s anointed king, even if he was not honoring God now. David knew Samuel had anointed David to be king, and David realized that taking Saul’s life himself was wrong and, after cutting a corner off of Saul’s robe, David felt convicted and was sorrowful for doing so.

Waiting on the Lord and having patience rather than acting impatiently is key in every season of life. David learned here to trust God. David needed to make a choice regarding what he should do. David chooses to wait and, in doing just that, David gained a correct perspective, that being, to wait upon the Lord and his timing. It would have been easy for David to kill Saul in that cave that day. David’s men encouraged him to do so. But David must have had a check in his spirit, and he chose to wait.

If you have a check in your spirit regarding something, stop and wait for the Lord. The check in your spirit may be the Spirit’s way of slowing you down and stopping you from doing something that you will regret later.

All the while Saul was pursuing David, David was pursuing God with all his heart. David took all his needs and struggles to the Lord. The more David sought and waited upon the Lord, the more perspective and patience he gained and displayed as someone being pursued and as king.

As a side note, David was not perfect. He must have ignored the check in his spirit regarding a relationship with Bathsheba and having her husband killed. David paid a heavy price for that sin.

Here’s what David wrote in Psalms:

“Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. 2 My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:1-4).

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2).

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him” (Psalm 40:1-3).

“Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. 2 Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness” (Psalm 26:1-3).

“Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing” (Psalm 16:1-2).

David was not always perfect, yet he trusted the Lord. David learned to wait upon the Lord and not be swayed to act foolishly. David would have agreed with the proverb Solomon wrote:

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly” (Proverbs 14:29).

If a person is to display patience, they must also have perseverance in difficult circumstances; perseverance to keep going when others might give up; perseverance to maintain what they believe in their heart to be true regarding God Almighty.

Wilderness seasons can become overwhelming at times. They will at times extend much longer than a person’s patience and that is when perseverance in the word of God and seeking his will, pays off when one’s patience is controlled.

In 1 Samuel 26 we find David has another opportunity to kill Saul, but he chooses to resist the peer pressure of his close friends and his actions cement his inward character as one who loved and obeyed God with all his heart. Yielding to the worldly temptation to kill Saul would have made Davids’s life a bit easier for the moment but it would have had a lasting negative effect on Davids’s life. God had a plan and purpose for both Saul and David. That plan did not include David taking Saul’s life. David needed to learn to trust God in difficult situations so when David became King, he knew he could trust God with even greater situations.

Are you trusting God with the small stuff so when more difficult situations come along you can trust God in those situations?

Like David we need to learn to wait upon the Lord and have the patience and perseverance to say yes to God and no to the many desires and voices that may want us to stray from obedience to God and his word.

The key to patience and perseverance in the Lord is to know the word of God. Have a daily relationship with the Lord in prayer. Meditate on his word and allow the Holy Spirit to bring to light all that the Lord has for you that day and the days ahead.

The closer you are to Jesus and his word, the more you will resemble Jesus and display the glory of God to others in your life.

It is not always easy to do what is right in the sight of God when others are telling you what you should do. At times you may need to take a stance different from all others, just as David did. David’s actions came from his heart and commitment to obey the Lord.

Just as David was able to stand firm and wait upon the Lord in the wilderness of En Gedi, you can do the same. As you patiently wait upon the Lord, he will renew your strength.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Wait and see what God will do as you trust him in difficult times of your life. Know that the other side of your wilderness season in life is God’s blessing and eternity with Christ the Lord.

It is not easy to wait upon the Lord. It’s not easy to be patient when things are difficult. It’s not fun in wilderness times but the truth of the matter is we learn more of the faithfulness of God in wilderness times. We learn more about ourselves in wilderness times. Like David, refuse to take matters into your own hands. The easy way out is not where you learn the hard lessons of life and faithfulness. It’s not where you learn patience to wait on God.

Be willing to trust God. Don’t jump ahead and try to help God out. He can deliver you out of whatever wilderness season you are in and bless you abundantly. His timing is perfect.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

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