“The Spirit then compelled Him out into the wilderness” – Mark 1:12

There comes a time in every man’s life when he will be taken out from the comfort he has known and led into the wild; a place where he will be pushed to his limits and forced to survive.

It’s a raw, but necessary rite of passage, that is anything but comfortable or welcomed.

Initially at the onset, this harsh environment will strike distress into our heart; a natural response. But, with time, the same terrain revealing something far greater about ourselves than we ever knew…

Be sure of this, what we have always known and understood does not apply in this place. Here, we must let go of our desire to control and stop trying to understand the situation we are facing. There is no control here… only hope; Hope that we will make it out with our lives. No amount of knowledge can prepare us for this reality… instead we simply require bravery.

Not one of us ever imagined we would find ourselves here; needless to say all may seem lost

Each man will enter this wilderness in his own unique way.

For some, intentionally venturing out into the less traveled places of our world to satisfy their curiosities; for others, wrong turns ending badly. Then there are those of us who will be ripped out and dropped into a crisis situation like a downed plane in the middle of nowhere; no choice in the matter. 

Regardless of how we got here, out of this unique wilderness will come a unique Call; becoming all the more clearer as we act wisely and listen closely. Isaiah 55:3 says ‘Incline your ear, and come to Me; Hear, and your soul shall live…’

Like the distinct howl of a wolf, this Call cannot be mistaken, nor will it be forgotten. No, it will set our lives on a new course; a course that is incredibly tough, but abundantly rich in countless ways.

As we wait to hear our personal call, we must not give in; no matter how daunting or intimidating the situation may seem. We must not let ourselves be consumed or lured by the temptation to retreat. There are real dangers and threats among us, which we must be aware of and protect against; exercising core preservation to see the dawn of a new day.

We can be confident there were many before us, and many in our midst who did just that; who made it out… truly alive and emerged proudly to share their survival stories. While they initially sought to save their own life, in time began to encounter something much larger than themselves… and wanted more. They left the comforts of home behind, went off the beaten path, and found everything by going deep…

Into the Wild