Finding Jesus in the Wilderness ~ Rachel Yarworth

Life can be hard and as Christians, it can feel it’s harder than it should be, right? We can go through different seasons, where days are filled with wonder and blessing, and suddenly, you can find yourself in an emptiness, wondering what has happened. You’re finding yourself in a spiritual wilderness, and it’s hard to see a way through this. Finding Jesus in the Wilderness is written in such a time, for such a time.

Rachel Yarworth, the author, has written 40 reflections in Finding Jesus in the Wilderness. I love how, in the introduction, she describes writing the book whilst in the wilderness, rather than afterwards, “written through the sanitised rose-tinted filter of hindsight”. This freshness and rawness comes out in every page, and personally, I felt it inspiring, as it feels like Rachel sits next to you in the dark, rather than tell you to get on with it!

Finding Jesus in the Wilderness is a beautiful collection, which can be read in order, or you could read those chapters which speak to you the most at any given time. As there’s forty chapters, it does make ideal reading for Lent, a time when many Christians seek to spend time in a voluntary wilderness, where these reflections would be such an added blessing.

You would think that forty reflections about Wilderness Living would be designed to bring you down, but nothing is further from the truth. Finding Jesus in the Wilderness is full of hope, meeting you in the wilderness, but not staying there, but helping you to find the beauty and grace in hard places. I love how each chapter end with a beautiful line, either a short prayer, a thought to linger in your mind of a special blessing just for you.

Finding Jesus in the Wilderness is very personal, where Rachel shares her thoughts and feeling in such an open and vulnerable way, which is a real blessing. We were just talking about it this morning with some Mum friends, how there can be such a lack of authenticity amongst Christian women, making us feel inferior and failing, with God frowning on us, because of a perceived lack of success.

Finding Jesus in the Wilderness is raw and real, where Rachel shares her experiences, without glossing them over or making it more spiritual than it is. Grief is real, and anger is a thing, but we don’t have to stay there, and in each chapter, she fully acknowledges the hurt, but gently leads us to those hidden gems still found in the wilderness, and in some chapters, it feels like I can still cling to the hem of Jesus’ garment, even if I can’t see His face.

Finding Jesus in the Wilderness is all about keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting through each storm and holding on in faith, knowing He is there. Finding Jesus in the Wilderness is bringing hope that each wilderness patch will end, that Jesus will see us through, that God is faithful and the Holy Spirit is working in us, guiding and teaching us. The book constantly encourages us to walk with God, even in the dark, and to know He is there, even when we can’t see Him.

Finding Jesus in the Wilderness is so full of truth and wisdom, I feel it’s the kind of book you will find yourself coming back to, each time when the way feels dry and hard. I received a review copy from Rachel, which I was so grateful for. I was under no pressure or obligation to write a favourable review.

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