Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. Hagar didn’t choose her story, she was given away, used, abused, and cast out. Twice she found herself in the wilderness with no idea where she was going. But both times, God showed up. He called her by name, reminded her that He hears, and gave her hope for a future. Hagar’s life teaches us two things: life isn’t fair, but God still sees. We don’t always get to choose the wilderness, but we do get to choose our attitude. We can fight, complain, or give up—or we can trust that God’s plan is better than ours. The wilderness may be the place where God changes what we’ve resisted for years. So if you’re in a season you never wanted, stop asking “Why me?” and start asking “Where is God leading me?” He sees you. He hears you. The question is: will you follow Him, even when it hurts?

The wilderness is never wasted. It feels lonely, scary, and hopeless, but in the Bible it is where God shows up. The wilderness is a place of testing, revelation, and preparation. Moses, David, Elijah, even Jesus, all had wilderness seasons. It is where failure turns into second chances, where God heals old wounds, gives rest, and brings clarity. The wilderness is not forever, it is a season. The question is not, “Why am I here?” but, “What does God want me to bring out of this wilderness?” If you will let Him, God will use this season to transform you and prepare you for what’s next.

Challenge: Don’t waste your wilderness. Stop running. Listen for God’s voice. Let Him use this season to heal, reset, and prepare you for your greater purpose.

Today we welcome guest pastor Jeremy Stalnecker from the Mighty Oaks Foundation. Life with Christ is a race. You are not running alone. Others have gone before you, the church runs beside you, and some need you to encourage them along the way. To finish well, you must stay focused, lay aside sin and distractions, run the race God set before you (not someone else’s), and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus when it gets dark. The greatest battle is in your mind, so choose daily not to quit. Run so that when you stand before God, you can rest in exhausted peace, knowing you gave Him everything.