Lessons in the wilderness

Joshua would be a great military leader for Israel but for the first 95 years of his life he knew nothing but slavery and the wilderness - two very horrible scenarios. However, what prepared Joshua to be a great leader was the many spiritual lessons he learned during the 40 years he wandered in the wilderness. All of us have wilderness times in our life. Some of you are going through a wilderness time right now as you find yourself facing a huge adversity. It's so easy for us, when we get into these wilderness times, to become discontent and to complain. Isn't that what Israel did during there 40 years? Can I remind you of something? God brings wilderness times into your life for a purpose. The greatest lessons God wants you to learn He teaches you in the wilderness. If you're going into a time of wilderness in your life, don’t despise this time. Don’t become bitter and slip away spiritually. It's the 40 years in the wilderness that prepared Joshua to be a great leader. If you will stay faithful in the wilderness, if you will keep your heart open to the lessons God wants to teach you during this time, on the other side of the wilderness you will see incredible growth.