DAY 22- BILL CROSBY

Day 22 – March 29, 2025

Remember the long way that the Lord has led you these 40 years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 8:2). 

The wilderness carries great symbolism and real experiences for some. Scripture tells us that Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days dealing with the temptations. Some of us know what it is to be in a spiritual wilderness. It has been said that a spiritual wilderness is a place of hopelessness, despair, and a feeling of separation from God. 

The season of Lent is a time of reflection, confession, and repentance. In this wilderness of Lent, we are not alone, and we are not hopeless, however, as we look at our lives and examine our hearts, lives, and actions we may slip into a sense of guilt or despair. The good news is that going through the season of Lent and confessing our sins and repenting we are renewed in our faith to know and experience the great forgiveness of God through Jesus and move from despair to renewed hope and joy. 

About 16 years ago, I was in the darkness and the wilderness of addiction. I had lost purpose and direction and hope in my life. I was talking to a Christian therapist who recommended that I read a book by Henri Nouwen, Turn My Mourning into Dancing. The Psalmist said in Psalm 30:7: “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” That helped me begin a journey to the light.  For all who know the darkness and the loneliness of the wilderness know that with the resurrection of Jesus, there is hope for all. Jesus went to the wilderness; he went through the agony of the cross, but he was raised to a new life that is given to all of us in the promise of coming out of the wilderness into the light.

– Bill Crosby

Prayer: Loving God, we praise you in the wilderness and we are grateful to you for bringing us through it into your abundant life. Thank you for bringing us light and glorious joy in the morning. Amen.