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The Wilderness Isn’t Wasted: Finding God’s Purpose in the Fog

Sometimes the path God puts us on is quiet, tangled, and slow—but still sacred.

There’s a kind of wilderness no one posts about. It’s not the kind of wilderness where you “unplug for a few days,” take a deep breath, and then head back to your life recharged. This kind is deeper. Slower. Uncomfortable. It’s the place where clarity fades, the doors close, and nothing makes sense anymore.

We call this the season of spiritual wilderness.

It’s the in-between space where dreams stall and obedience feels like silence. Where the mountaintop moments feel far away and the only thing louder than the stillness is the question: “Did I miss it?”

Walking Into the Wilderness

Not long ago, my wife Celeste and I left Colorado Springs—a place we loved, a life that felt aligned—for what seemed like a backwards step. We returned to our hometown of Lubbock, Texas, feeling like we were walking away from the dream we had prayed so hard for.

We had momentum. Vision. A house in a neighborhood we loved. A sense that we were finally stepping into God’s promises. And then, just like that—He asked us to let it go. To trade the unknown for the familiar. To step back into something we thought we’d already moved past.

We didn’t understand. It felt like a detour at best. A failure at worst.

The American version of success doesn’t make space for stillness. But what we were walking into wasn’t failure. It was formation.

Spiritual Wilderness Seasons Don’t Always Look Like Disaster

Sometimes, it just looks like normal. And that’s what makes it so disorienting.

We weren’t in a crisis. But we were in fog. And in that fog, we started to question everything: Who are we now? Were we crazy to leave? Were we just people who failed to follow through?

The real question underneath all of it was about identity.

But then, the whisper came. The same one that had led us through other seasons of waiting and wandering:

“Your time will come… but for now, I need you here.”

That phrase became our anchor.

When Nothing Is Moving, God Still Is

In that stillness, we launched Curated Conversations, a gathering built on honest dialogue and spiritual depth. I stepped deeper into a business project that started to come alive. And slowly, the fog began to lift.

We started to see that maybe this wasn’t a detour—it was the next step of the dream. Just not the one we had pictured.

Formation Happens in the Quiet

The wilderness has always been God’s favorite classroom.

• Moses didn’t lead Israel out of Egypt from a palace. He was called out of a desert bush after 40 years of anonymity (Exodus 3).
• Jesus didn’t go from baptism straight to preaching. The Spirit led Him into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1).
• Paul didn’t launch into ministry right after conversion. He spent years in Arabia, letting God do deep internal work (Galatians 1:17).

Why? Because before God builds through you, He builds in you.

The wilderness isn’t wasted. It’s not punishment. It’s preparation.

Stop Chasing Clarity

If you’re walking through one of these seasons—where everyone else seems to be moving forward, and you’re standing still—here’s my encouragement:

Stop trying to figure it all out. Stop whiteboarding your way to breakthrough. Finally, stop chasing clarity like it’s the end goal.

God isn’t a GPS. He’s a Guide.

And more often than not, He’s not saying, “Go here” or “Go there.” He’s saying:

“Do what you want—and I’ll walk with you either way.”

That’s the wild beauty of walking with Him. He doesn’t always give you a roadmap. Sometimes, He just gives you His presence.

You’re Not Behind. You’re Being Formed.

If your story doesn’t look like theirs, that’s okay.

If your plans are unraveling, maybe that’s grace.

Lastly, if your prayers aren’t being answered the way you expected, maybe that’s because God is answering a deeper question you haven’t thought to ask yet.

Maybe the wilderness is where you stop performing and start becoming.

Let the Fog Do Its Work

The next time you feel stuck, lost, or left behind, remember this:

• You’re not late.
• You’re not off-track.
• You’re being formed in the quiet.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

Reflection Questions for the Season of Spiritual Wilderness

As you walk through your own season of waiting, here are a few questions to help you reflect and listen:

• What if the fog you’re walking through isn’t hiding the path—but forming it?
• What part of your identity is God trying to solidify in this season?
• Are you more focused on clarity than intimacy with Him?
• What if the silence you’re hearing is the invitation to hear His whisper?
• Can you name one way this “unproductive” season might actually be preparation?

Don’t rush these. Sit with them. Journal through them. And trust that God’s timing always carries purpose.

Practical Ways to Trust God in the Spiritual Wilderness Season

Waiting seasons don’t have to be passive. Here are a few simple but powerful practices you can step into today:

• Daily Walks: Create space in your day to walk, pray, and listen with no agenda.
• Wilderness Psalms: Meditate on scriptures written in the waiting—Psalm 13, 27, 40, 63, 77, 130.
• Sabbath Rhythm: Dedicate one day to stop producing and start resting—just to be with God.
• Pray “Here I am” prayers: Instead of asking “What’s next?”, simply say “God, I’m here. Speak.”
• Share your season: Bring one trusted friend into what you’re going through. Let someone hold it with you.
• Plug into Wild At Heart: This ministry has completely transformed my life. It can do the same to yours too.

These aren’t formulas—they’re anchors. Ways to stay grounded while you wait for the fog to lift.

Want More?

This post was adapted from The Rugged Face podcast, Episode 3: “The Wilderness Isn’t Wasted.” If this resonates, subscribe to the show, or share it with someone who feels stuck in their in-between season.

We’re with you. And we’re not in a hurry.

Let’s keep climbing.

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