Hosea 2:14-15: “I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor (Trouble) a door of hope.”

In this passage God leads Israel into a wilderness. He can lead us into a wilderness too.

We think of a wilderness as an empty and hostile place we want to avoid. But in the Bible, the wilderness can be seen as place where the Lord meets His people and speaks to them. Moses hears God in a desert in the burning bush. God gives the Israelites the Ten Commandments in the wilderness. Elijah finds God there in a “still small voice.” The Spirit led Jesus into the desert before beginning his public ministry.

Biblically, the wilderness is understood as “a sacred place of intimacy” where God reveals Himself. There are many lessons we can learn in a wilderness that we cannot learn elsewhere. There are ways to hear God without distraction when we would not otherwise hear.

In the Scripture passage from Hosea, God is leading the Israelite nation into the wilderness to speak tenderly to her and restore her to a place of righteousness and blessing. He uses this occasion to take their troubles (Achor) and transform it into a door of hope! Wow! Do you believe God wants to do that for you too (John 3:16)?

When we are going through tough times we often ask, “How much longer…when will this be over?” But the better questions would be, “What are the opportunities? Where do I see God working? What can I learn from my wilderness experience and bring with me as I move forward?”