Serving in the Wilderness

I’ve been asked to speak on “flourishing in the wilderness” to a gathering of leaders from around the world. I’m asked to specifically address the question, “How do we turn the valley of weeping into a place of springs?” While the leaders conference is way off next year, the question is deeply personal and pertinent for me. On New Year’s Day, I was delighted to receive a prophetic word from a dear spiritual leader that 2025 will be a banner year for John and I. Not being a native English speaker, I had to google “banner year,” which means an especially good and successful season. However, later that week while visiting NGOs in Thailand, we were informed that John’s cancer had returned. It began a hard year of leading while living in the midst of a personal and private "wilderness."

This morning, I read “The Word of God came to John (the Baptist) in the wilderness (Luke 3:2).” I find that to be so true. I have experienced Jesus himself entering my wilderness.

His word came to me at a prayer retreat. The Lord showed me that I had allowed a series of disappointments to erode my hope. He then challenged and reminded me: to serve the nations, I need no ordinary hope. Instead, I need the hope-against-all-hope kind of hope: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations.” The hope we need is the hope that defies situations that seem hopeless. It is the hope-against-all-hope that empowers us to inherit the nations.

His word also comes to me as secrets. A friend of mine told me that in this wilderness, “Jesus has treasures and secrets to share with you at this time. It is the work of the interior because it’s hidden but very real.” I have found these treasures to be experiential, not merely intellectual. In a time when nothing feels solid, I not only know but am clinging to the life rope of the Lord alone: “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure” (Ps. 16:5, italics mine).

His word has come to me so I may serve. After the word came to John the Baptist, he immediately went around preaching about Jesus who will baptize with the Holy Spirit (v.16). John not only received God’s Word in the wilderness, it empowered him to begin ministering in the wilderness.

“How do we turn the valley of weeping into a place of springs?” By receiving his Word coming to us in the wilderness. His Word pursues us. We just need to receive. No matter what each of us are going through, may we receive His Word in our wilderness. And after having received, may we then serve Him even in our wilderness. As we serve him in our wilderness, he imparts to us hope-against-all-hope so that we may inherit the nations.

Blessings,
Mary

Dr. Mary Ho, DSL

All Nations International, Inc. | International Executive Leader