It is the beginning of Lent, a season where the church has traditionally laid aside things in order to create space for God.

The start of a new series of Life in the Wilderness, Jo and Steph discuss those times we all face but all would prefer not to - those desert times.

They discuss what the wilderness may look like and has looked like for them: times where we feel spiritually dry, where our faith has been tested or where God has used difficult circumstances to form our character. Jo shares about adapting to a new life in the US after a fruitful season in the UK, and Steph shares about her journey with singleness and dating.

Looking at the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt, we learn the the distance between slavery and the Promised Land is the wilderness, and how God uses that time to correct the wrong mindsets the Israelites had in terms of their identity, purpose and relationship with God.

God sees you, He is with you in it and He wants to walk with you. You are not forgotten.

Discussion questions:

1. Describe a desert time in your life that has now passed and you have now seen breakthrough. What did it feel like physically, emotionally and spiritually during that desert time? How did God meet you in that desert time and form your character?

2. Where in your life are you still in the wilderness? Where are you seeing the opposite to what you believe God has promised right now? The Israelites were given truth in the wilderness. What truths do you need to remind yourself of and how can you do that practically? (Have a verse in a prominent place, set a timer weekly to re-read words spoken over you, have a time to meet regularly with someone to pray about the wilderness season).

3. Where are you wrestling against God's purposes for you in the wilderness? Where do you need to surrender and trust that God sees you and is with you and wants to meet you in the midst of this wilderness?

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Connect with Jo at: www.josaxton.com @josaxton

Connect with Steph at: www.pastorsteph.com @pastorsteph

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