Wondering in the Wilderness - a Daring Adventure

Camp Bethel campers and counselors lead vespers on top of a mountain in North Carolina during Youth Trip Camp.

As I am reflecting on the theme for this summer, I am incredibly moved and inspired. This feels like such a timely message, on one perfectly demonstrated through the camp experience. I just spent a weekend at a Brethren Woods Youth Winter Retreat where we introduced this theme, and it reminded me how powerful of a message this is. So in response, I hope to somewhat regularly share my musings here and inspire others.

Today - I was inspired by a leadership book I am reading for seminary called "Building Leaders" by Aubrey Malphurs and Will Mancini. In a chapter where they talk about the importance of empowering leaders and its pitfalls, they reference a quote from that really struck me:

"Security is mostly a superstition - it does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is not safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or it is nothing at all" - Helen Keller

This quote was elaborated with an equally inspiring quote from the authors of the book:

"So in the end we can either live with the illusion of control and move toward the illusion of security and predictability, or we can relinquish control to God in a way that frees us to take the risk of empowering others" - Aubrey Malphurs and Will Mancini

These quotes represent ways we can respond to wildernesses we face - we can either shrink back into the corners of our safety, or we can take daring steps into the unknown, trusting God to guide our paths.

One of the greatest examples of wilderness in the Bible is the Israelite's pilgramige to the promised land for 40 years in the desert. More than once, they would complain to Moses that their time in slavery in Egypt was preferable to the unexpected wilderness they were in. They wanted to shrink back to their corner and be in literal bondage over being in God's wilderness because that was "safer" and "more predictable". How terrible a thing it would be that we would rather put ourselves in chains that step into the daring adventures God has for us.

But here's the thing - even though the wilderness is scary, wild, and unpredictable - God shows us that He is dependable in the wilderness. We often don't see the extent of His faithfulness until we take those daring steps, and God leads us through them. His power is most magnificently on display when we can fully put our trust in Him - something that is much harder to do in our comfort zones. Even though God does not promise to keep us from all harm (because sometimes we do need to face challenges in order to grow), He promises us that we will overcome - a far greater promise than living in a safe and "nothing at all" life.

“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:32-33

So let us be empowered to take steps into God's daring adventure that He has set before you - whatever that may be. And let us encourage others to do the same, reminding each other that we are never truly alone in the wilderness, but that God promises to be with us as we face troubles of the world, because Jesus has overcome the world.