Day 10 – March 14, 2025

In the wilderness Jesus likely felt tired, lonely, hungry, and beaten down. In His most vulnerable state, Satan tried to take advantage and tempt Jesus to use his power to seek relief. But Jesus had a choice and decided to resist fleeting satisfaction for a higher purpose. After dismissing Satan, Angels showed up to minister to him. 

Carolyn and I are empty nesters and we no longer have constant focus on meeting the needs of our kids, going to their events, etc.  Parenting is helpful in keeping perspective and directing focus.  Now that they are gone, where do we find meaning and satisfaction? My wilderness tends to be the same wilderness I have struggled with my whole life.  Being as comfortable and happy as possible.  My temptations, especially now that there is not a constant focus on parenting, have become on making my life as satisfying as possible, and it is very tempting to seek instant gratification through the gateway to the world- my smartphone! It’s as if Satan is saying, “You have the world at the touch of a button, isn’t this interesting? That would be a satisfying Amazon purchase. One more for free shipping! Check social media or you’ll miss something. Check it again five minutes later!” … and down the rabbit hole I go. Because the emotional part of our brains can’t tell the difference between true urgency and a strong urge, it’s a hard path to navigate. Especially in my most vulnerable states, It feels like I should follow this instant gratification path even though it distracts me from God, relationships, responsibility, or even peaceful silence. 

The good news is that Jesus taught us how to manage this.  Jesus was tempted with instant gratification and control just as we are tempted by so many easy-access distractions and the control we believe they will bring.  He could have given in to the temptation but he did nothing.  That’s right, he did nothing!  Ultimately Jesus was satisfied with his relationship and trust in God and his acts of love, even to those who were seen as unloveable.  This probably wasn’t always easy for Him, but angels ministered to him afterward, providing sustaining comfort.  In my own wilderness of constantly growing instant gratification, I know that God has set our bodies and brains up for this to be a very difficult process driven by dopamine, the motivation chemical. I am a counselor and I deal with this kind of dopamine-driven behavior on a daily basis. I also understand that God has created a recovery process that is also chemical, and it is amazing.  If I resist and do nothing, just wait it out, the dopamine-driven urge fades and my calmer brain understands that the temptation was just a trick. I will be more satisfied with directing my energy toward my relationship with God, loving others, and yes, sometimes sitting in silence. 

We are all in this wilderness, and chances are that temptations are going to get more and more easily accessible. I pray we can all face the wilderness like Jesus did and just wait it out, let that temporary feeling pass, and receive the supportive angelic ministers who say, “Nice job.  That was a tough one.  Aren’t you glad you didn’t give in to that?”  In a “gotta be right now” world, let’s remind ourselves that the wait is tough, but well worth it. 

– Paul Bakke

Prayer: Holy Lord, help us to use this time of Lent to put away distractions and draw closer to you. In our urges for instant gratification, help us to see that sometimes waiting in the stillness can be much more satisfying in the long run. Make us able to take a deep breath, steel our hearts, and lay our worries at your feet.  You are almighty but, more than that, you are good. Thank you for loving us.  Amen.