How to Trust God in the Wilderness

Published by helloredds@gmail.com on 06/03/202506/03/2025

How to Trust God in the Wilderness – Even When Things Feel Wildly Out of Control.

The mayhem of May just ended, yet I’m still reeling from the chaos of my calendar.

How about you?  

With the summer months approaching, we’re supposed to be gearing up for a break from the busyness of life. However, it’s hard to predict if the lull of activity will happen. And, if it does, will we find ourselves enjoying a much-needed break or be bored out of our minds, unable to handle a season of inactivity? 

Busyness has become our norm.

It’s not just Maycember, it’s year-round. The constant barrage of distractions thrown at us throughout the day keeps us always on alert with notifications, checklists, and more. It’s hard to cope with silence, welcome the quiet, or entertain a little far niente (Italian for the sweetness of doing nothing). 

Have We Lost the Art?

We’ve simply forgotten the art of getting away from it all. We don’t trust ourselves or anyone else enough to step away—to do something wild like lay it down, let things rest, or remain undone.

Even more, we’re afraid to come back later, better for the break, and fully recharged because we relied on God to cover the chaos we’ve created.

Weirdly, surrender feels like losing control. However, feeling out of control brings us to our knees–– exactly where God does His best work in us.

What if we broke away from our routine response and chose the wilder ways of God?

What if we walked away from it all for a moment, like Jesus did (see Mark 1 & 6, Luke 5, and Matthew 5 & 6)?

And, what if you decided to take a walk on the wild side with God–– bucked the system, rebelled against your to-do lists, and threw caution to the wind in exchange for the sweetness of doing nothing at all? 

Jesus (to the disciples): Let us go out into the wilderness for a while and rest.

The crowds gathered as always, and Jesus and the twelve couldn’t eat because so many people came and went.  They could get no peace until they boarded a boat and sailed toward a deserted place.

Mark 6:31-32 The Voice 

Would you willingly go to the wilderness?

Would you wait on God and put your hope in being helplessly inactive? Friend, Jesus is still beckoning us to come away to the deserted places today.

Sounds wild, doesn’t it?

I promise. It’s not what you think. Look closer and you’ll see there’s hope ahead.

The wilderness is often thought to be a lonely, deserted place where we’re parched for lack of water and burned up (and out) by the scorching heat. Reminds me of how it feels to be caught up in the craziness of our ever-increasing schedules.

Can you relate? The truth is, you don’t have to be going through a major event to feel like you’re in what many call a wilderness season; sometimes life feels overwhelming in its everydayness. 

The wilderness gets a bad rap, in my opinion, because I know better. I’ve witnessed wonders in the wild. I’ve been there to see hope rise from the intense fire threatening to burn up every good thing I had to offer. When all seemed lost (including me), God showed up. And, friend, He promises to meet you there too. 

What if there’s something more to be experienced in the unknown? What if making a change to your course could revive your soul? 

Change brings us out of our comfort zones and challenges our communication with our Creator and ourselves. As the conversations become deeper, the world gets drowned out. Our soul now quieted allows our confidence to blossom forth. We begin to trust God with the details of our lives. 

Good things grow in the desert when we let God tend to our souls.

Instead of going on wild goose chases that never get us where we long to be, we can go confidently into the wilderness with God. Something wild takes place when we get away with God. 

In what seems to be a hopeless place, it shows us: 

Wonders in the wilderness (Isaiah 43:18-19) 

Increases our imagination by doing more than we could ask, think, or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)

Leaves us longing for the things of God, more of Him (Psalm 37:4)

Dares us to dream bigger or dream again with God (Proverbs 16:3)

Though He tarry, God is working in the wild.

Truly, it’s in the waiting where we will see wonders beyond our imagination turn into the longings of our heart as we dare to dream again with God. 

Hope is found out in the WILD – How to Trust God in the Wilderness

Somehow, the unknown doesn’t feel so scary when we truly trust in God’s guiding hand. Knowing we have a beautiful inheritance. (Psalm 16:5) Like David, we can pray to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

Now, that’s a prayer God’s happy to answer. 

If we get quiet. 

If we get away. 

Wild hope will bloom because God planted it there before the beginning of time. (Psalm 139) 

Prayer: How to Trust God in the Wilderness

“God, give me eyes to see Your hand at work in my life. Give me the courage to believe in the beautiful inheritance you have for me. 

May I taste and see that You are good in the everyday moments. Even when my life feels less than secure, stir up faith in me to trust you completely.  

Help me to trust You in the wilderness. God, my hope is in You. Amen.”

“Imagine the wilderness whooping for joy, the desert’s unbridled happiness with its spring flowers.”

Isaiah 35:1 VOICE

For more encouragement, take a moment to sit with God today and read Isaiah 35. I’ve linked a beautiful version that I know will feed your soul. 

For further reflection: How to Trust God in the Wilderness

Read Isaiah 35. Sit in the quiet with God. Journal about how it feels like when you imagine the wilderness in a new way, filled with hope–– blooming and alive. 

How does reimaging your wilderness season in a positive light bring you a fresh perspective on what God is doing in your life and circumstances? 

Write a prayer asking God to help give you the courage to believe He has good things in store for you. Pray this prayer every day for a week. Revisit this devotional. 

About the Author – Amy Elaine Martinez

Amy Elaine Martinez is devoted to helping heart-shattered lives become whole again in Christ. She’s a Victory Girl at heart who loves leading women to experience breakthroughs & find freedom through an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Even more, she’s an Okie who loves pecan pie, fried okra, & exploring the plains off historic Route 66 where she lives in a tiny barn with the love of her life, David, and an Aussie named Maverick, who stole her heart after their two boys, Sidney & Gabriel, left to adventure out on their own. She’s also a mom-in-law to Riley & Yia-Yia to her darlings, Raelynn and Josephine.

Also, my Elaine prefers cowboy boots & flip flops if she’s wearing shoes at all.

She’s the host of The Grace Frontier Podcast, a Bible teacher, former radio host, & Word junkie who loves Jesus wildly. Amy Elaine’s Blog, A Broken Girl Made Whole, inspires women to walk in wholeness & live in victory through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Becoming a Victory Girl: Staking Your Claim in The Kingdom is available on Amazon or by contacting Amy Elaine directly via email.

Connect with Amy Elaine on IG and FB at amyelainewrites or visit her website at amyelaine.com.

Were you encouraged by what you read?

Then, would you share this article with a friend, co-worker, or family member?

Or, maybe you can send it to a friend or family member?

This blog occasionally uses affiliate links and may contain affiliate links.

Additionally, Melanie Redd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.

This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees. These are earned by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Also, for more on my disclosure policy, click HERE.

© Melanie Redd and Hope Ministry, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

Further, excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melanie Redd and Hope Ministry.

Please give appropriate and specific directions to the original content.

How to Trust God in the Wilderness