Exploring the Wilderness, Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit

Scriptures
​Psalm 39

• Summary: The psalmist contemplates the brevity of life and the fleeting nature of human existence, seeking refuge and wisdom from God.
• Key Thought: Life is short, and we must reflect on how we use our time and actions, turning our hearts toward God for true purpose and meaning.

Numbers 13:17-27

• Summary: Moses sends spies into the land of Canaan to explore it. After forty days, they return, reporting that the land is flowing with milk and honey, but the people also face giants and challenges.
• Key Thought: The journey into the wilderness brings both challenges and opportunities, but God’s promises remain sure.

Luke 13:18-21

• Summary: Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed that grows into a large tree and yeast that leavens the whole dough, illustrating how something small can grow and transform.
• Key Thought: The Kingdom of God may begin small, but it has the power to grow and transform everything it touches.

As we enter the forty days of Lent, we are invited to explore the wilderness of our own lives. Just as the Israelites spent forty days exploring the desert of Zin, returning with fruit that spoke of the land's abundance, we, too, are called to examine our spiritual journey and the state of our hearts and bring home good fruit. In Numbers 13:17-27, the spies see the land's beauty flowing with milk and honey and the giants threatening to overpower them. They discover that the promise of God’s provision is not without its challenges. In the same way, the wilderness of our lives may present us with struggles, but it is in this place of testing that God reveals God’s faithfulness and abundance.

Lent is a time when we face our own temptations and giants, just as Jesus did in the wilderness. In Luke 13:18-21, Jesus speaks of the mustard seed and the yeast—small beginnings that grow into something great. Like the mustard seed, our faith may start small, but with God’s power, it can grow into a mighty witness. Jesus, after His forty days in the wilderness, emerged alive with the Spirit, ready to give life to others. This journey of Lent calls us to explore our own wilderness—our struggles, our doubts, our weaknesses—and to trust that, just as Jesus was strengthened by the Spirit, we, too, will emerge renewed and filled with God’s power.

Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar and spiritual teacher, writes, “The spiritual journey is not about avoiding the struggles of life, but about learning to see through them and allowing them to shape us into more mature beings.” During this season of Lent, we are invited to let the wilderness of our lives transform us. It involves not avoiding difficulties but exploring them with God, permitting Christ to cultivate fruit within us. Just as the Israelites returned with the fruit of the land, we too will bear fruit if we are willing to navigate the wilderness with God, confronting our challenges, doubts, and fears with the assurance that Christ is with us.

Just as the mustard seed grows into a great vine and the yeast leavens the entire dough, so too will our witness and the work of the Spirit in our lives spread. We are called to bear the fruit of the Spirit, even in the wilderness, and to be leaven in the world, bringing life and transformation to those around us. This Lenten journey, although it may take us through the wilderness, will ultimately lead us to the fullness of life in Christ, who not only faced temptation but triumphed over it, offering that same victory to us. As we journey through these forty days, may we allow the Spirit to work in us, bearing fruit that reflects the Kingdom of God and sharing it with a world in need.


Prayer:
Lord, as we journey through the wilderness of Lent, we ask for Your presence to guide us. Help us to face the challenges with courage and trust in Your promises. Like the mustard seed and the yeast, may our faith grow and transform us so that we may bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We surrender our struggles to You, knowing You are with us, shaping us into the people You have called us to be. May we emerge from this season alive with Your Spirit, ready to share Your life with the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection Question:
What challenges in your life are you facing during this season of Lent, and how can you invite the Spirit to transform them into opportunities for growth and fruitfulness?