How long, Lord? Where are you, Lord? Have you forgotten me, Lord?
How often those of us who have spent lonely, desperate days in the wilderness of pain or loss have lifted these cries to God! King David did. Jan and I did. And so have many others. It doesn't matter who we are, but time in the wilderness seems to demand more than we have to give. It leaves us feeling helpless and utterly alone. It leaves us wondering if even God has abandoned us.

Jan and I have learned that the wi... (continued)

At one time or another, most wilderness travelers experience the desperate feeling of being utterly alone and lost.  The Psalms remind us that others have suffered through the wilderness and have discovered that God is faithful.  May these selected Psalms bring refreshment, comfort, and the hope that no matter how barren the landscape or how weary you become, God will never abandon you.

Others have journeyed through the wilderness before us.
Lord, have m... (continued)

For the past five years, Melanie Cooper has battled a cancerous tumor in her arm. She has faced the wilderness of pain, fatigue, and uncertainty. During the summer of 1995, she could take no more. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted, she was beginning, as she says, to lose hope that these powerful medicines would destroy the tumor without destroying me first." So she took a six-month break from chemotherapy in order to rest and restore her health. Her health-restoration plan in... (continued)

Once upon a time there lived a young pastor and his lovely family. The pastor and his wife loved each other very much. They were happy in their work and very devoted to their children, Jonathan and Allison.  The path they walked together seemed so good. The future seemed bright and secure. But late in the summer of Jonathan's fourth year, he got sick-very sick. Five weeks later, the beautiful, blond-haired, blue-eyed boy died of an undiagnosed illness. . .

That's how I entered the... (continued)

This issue of The Encourager is about being in the wilderness. Whether that wilderness is the great outdoors or the wilderness of pain experience. What do you need? How can you prepare? Our Wilderness Survival Guide highlights the necessary requirements for surviving a wilderness journey.

The Wilderness Outdoors  The first rule of survival is to build a shelter. If you don't have a tent or tarp, use branches or other natural materials to build one. Choose a site a... (continued)