Sara Masarik
Tag: Book ReviewMoody Publishers
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“To live by faith, we must be stretched until we need faith… God uses troubles and trials to wean us off our trust in anything other than Him. Our faith is fed through feeling hunger, not by avoiding it.”
When Moody asked if we wanted to review Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste, I was excited. The topic of wilderness intrigued me, as I know how constant a theme it is in the life of any Christian. From the very beginning, Crowe’s writing drew me in for its honesty, thoughtfulness, and deeply pastoral tone. I felt as if we were walking together on the road to Emmaus, exploring the wilderness as fellow pilgrims.
“God not only prepares Moses, but He reveals Himself to Moses. The two go together. Learning who God is and what He’s like is the most important part of our preparation.”
Crowe masterfully makes timeless biblical truths dynamic and engaging. While I was already aware of the lessons these stories teach, he showed me new ways of contemplating God’s perfect love and the hope that can be found even in dark places.
"These trials create a gap, reveal a need, or stretch our trust in God, and then time and time again, it's there that we experience God's help as we wait on Him.”
Anyone who has studied the Book of Job or the widow visited by Elijah knows that God uses everything to draw us closer to Him. What I loved about this book is how it encourages readers to delight in the refiner’s fire and see God’s promises in the midst of trials.
"If Jesus relied upon Scripture to fight off the devil's attacks and traps, then that's the weapon He wants us to pick up as well."
I believe librarians would be wise to have this on their shelves for readers who need it. Crowe emphasizes the importance of confronting the half-truths of suffering with the full truths of Scripture, and of internalizing these truths so they are ready when hard times come. For that reason, this book is an excellent read for anyone seeking to build up spiritual resources for the seasons of life when trials inevitably arrive.
"Being in the wilderness and going through trials and temptations doesn't automatically grow your faith. It can diminish your faith, unless you leverage this season to prioritize the presence of God."
In short, Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste beautifully turns hardship into an adventure with God, reminding us that even the most difficult paths can bring growth, hope, and deeper faith.