LESSONS FROM THE WILDERNESS

READINGS: FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

On this first Sunday of Lent, the Gospel reading (Matthew 4:1-11) reveals some real-life experiences through the temptation of Christ. Before Jesus began His public ministry, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil; a reminder that seasons of dryness, waiting, or struggle are not signs of God’s absence but places of formation, where God is strengthening us for what He and how He intends to use us.

The first thing to notice here is that temptations meet us at our deepest needs and often come disguised as shortcuts to satisfy legitimate needs. Jesus is hungry, and the devil tempts Him with bread. For us, it could be the need for affirmation, which leads us to compromise our integrity; the need for security, which leads us to cling to unhealthy relationships or make unethical decisions; or the need for control, which leads us to manipulate situations instead of trusting God. The truth is that not every hunger should be filled; some are meant to turn us back to God.

Notice also that sometimes, temptations often sound almost right. The devil quotes Scripture but twists it. Temptation can come disguised as something reasonable: We may tell ourselves, “I deserve this,” even when the choice harms our soul, or “Everyone does it” even when we know it’s wrong, or “God will understand,” even when we know we are excusing sin. Our path is to always stay rooted in the whole truth of God’s Word, not just the part that suits us.

Unrelenting in his effort, the devil promises Jesus glory that is not his and wants Him to abandon the way of the cross. We face similar shortcuts— wanting blessings without the discipline of prayer, strong relationships without forgiveness, spiritual authority without the humility of service, and so on. Jesus shows us that obedience is the only path to true life, not convenience. He stands firm because He knew who He is—the beloved Son of the Father. The fact is that many of our temptations gain power when we forget who we are and to whom we belong. Temptations lose grip when our identity is rooted in God and in His Word.

One of the most comforting parts of this temptation encounter is that after struggle comes strength. After the devil was done tempting Christ, Scripture says that “angels came and ministered to Him”. God never leaves us exhausted in the wilderness. Rather, grace, peace, and unexpected help usually meet us on the other side of every faithful “No”. This could come in the form of friends who offer encouragement, moments of unexpected peace, or new opportunities that open after a season of trial. The truth of the matter is that God always sends help, and many a time, our blessings lie on the other side of our pain.

My friends, as we journey through this Lenten Season, let us name our wilderness—where we are feeling stretched, tested, or alone. Let us identify our hunger—the deep needs that are driving our decisions at this moment. Let us ground ourselves in Scripture, not as a weapon to win arguments, but as a weapon to counter those who misuse it to mislead. Let us fast from those things that are in our hearts that stand in disobedience to God, against the spirit of love, and the spirit of forgiveness. May the Lord grant us a very fruitful Lenten Season. Amen!