Stop Settling for “Almost”: Success Is Forged in Obscurity
Part Two of the “Living a Remarkable Life” series
In the first newsletter of this series, we discovered that passion is not simply a feeling we wait to experience. It is a fire we cultivate through the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and intentional solitude. When the fire meets the water, steam is produced, and that steam gives us the energy to move toward our purpose.
Once that fire begins to burn, however, we often want to rush toward visibility. We want the opportunity, the open door, the public platform, and the moment when other people finally recognize what God has placed within us. Yet God frequently leads us in the opposite direction. Before there is a platform, there is usually preparation. Before there is public impact, there is often a private wilderness.
The Wilderness Before the Work
Jesus spent roughly three decades outside the public spotlight before beginning His brief public ministry. Even after His baptism, when the Father publicly affirmed Him and the Spirit descended upon Him, Jesus did not immediately move toward the crowds. Mark tells us that the Spirit sent Him into the wilderness, where He was tested for forty days.
That sequence matters. Affirmation did not exempt Jesus from testing. Calling did not eliminate preparation. The public declaration of His identity was followed by a private season in which that identity was challenged.
We often interpret hidden seasons as evidence that nothing is happening. The opportunity has not arrived, the audience is not growing, and the door remains closed, so we assume we are being delayed or overlooked. What if obscurity is not proof that God has forgotten you? What if it is the workshop where He is strengthening you?
The wilderness is not empty. It is where motives are purified, dependence is deepened, and character is formed.
The Three Temptations
The other Gospel accounts give us a fuller picture of the temptations Jesus faced. They represent three pressures that continue to confront anyone who desires to live a remarkable life.
The first is the temptation of self-sufficiency. Jesus was hungry, and Satan challenged Him to turn stones into bread. The temptation was not merely about food. It was an invitation to use His power independently of the Father. Jesus refused to build His life around His own ability to meet every need.
The second is the temptation of spectacle. Jesus was challenged to throw Himself from the Temple and force God to rescue Him publicly. It was an invitation to prove His identity through a dramatic display. Jesus refused to become a performer who needed a crowd to validate His calling.
The third is the temptation of power. Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world without the suffering of the cross. It was a shortcut to influence, but the price was compromise. Jesus refused to gain authority by abandoning obedience.
We face the same pressures. We are tempted to rely entirely on ourselves, to perform for recognition, and to take shortcuts toward influence. The wilderness exposes these desires before they can quietly control us.
What Is Your Wilderness Forming?
Hidden seasons teach you how to remain faithful when nobody is applauding. They reveal whether you need attention to feel valuable and whether you can obey before the results become visible. They also prepare you to carry opportunities without being crushed by them.
Henri Nouwen wrote, “Solitude is the furnace of transformation. Without solitude we remain victims of our society and continue to be entangled in the illusions of the false self.”
Perhaps you are in a wilderness season right now. Instead of asking only, “How can I escape this?” ask, “What is God forming in me here?” Identify one area of character that needs strengthening. It may be patience, humility, self-control, integrity, or dependence on God.
Do not despise the hidden work. The strength developed in obscurity determines what you will be able to carry in public.
The wilderness forms us privately, but we are not meant to complete our purpose alone. Eventually, the people around us begin to influence what our preparation produces. In the next newsletter, we will explore the architecture of your atmosphere and the importance of having people who will help carry you toward Jesus.
Over the next several months, I will be sharing articles drawn from the books I have written during the past sixteen years. Each article will include a link to the book for readers who would like to explore the subject more deeply. If that is not something you need, simply enjoy the article itself. :-) ||Here is the book link for this article||