Bush University: Wisdom from the Wilderness

Guest Post: Melanie McJannet, Woman At The Well Productions

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The Desire to Do Something Great for God

Every born-again believer wants to do something great for God. The desire is noble, the fire is real.

“The zeal of the Lord consumes me.” — Psalm 69:9

But zeal without depth can collapse under weight. Like building a house, calling requires stages: foundation, framework, insulation, windows, roof, and only then, the finishing touches.Many want to decorate what God hasn’t finished building.

Before the vision stands tall, the foundation must go deep.

“Whoever hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24–25

The Wilderness: God’s Classroom of Character

The desert is the classroom of character. Here, God removes the scaffolding of comfort and teaches us to live by every word that proceeds from His mouth. It’s where we learn obedience when no one is watching and faith when nothing is moving.He isn’t withholding your promise; He’s pouring your foundation.

Once the foundation is firm, God begins to frame the structure of trust. He teaches us to recognize His voice, to rely on His provision, and to let Him set the pace. Every beam of faith is measured in surrender.In this stage, He shifts us from performing for Him to walking with Him.

“I will allure her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.” — Hosea 2:14–15

This is where the bush burns but is not consumed, where we learn that God’s fire doesn’t destroy His own; it refines them. Here, He turns the Valley of Achor (trouble) into a door of hope.

If You’re in a Desert Season

If you find yourself in a desert season, don’t despise it. The longer the wandering, the greater the wonder. The wilderness isn’t wasted; it’s womb space. God is developing roots deep enough to sustain the fruit He’s about to grow through you.

What feels like delay is actually design. What feels like isolation is actually invitation.The desert is where intimacy precedes influence, and hiddenness becomes holy.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” — Zechariah 4:10

A Personal Wilderness Story

Looking back to that night, I can still see myself at the window of my one-bedroom apartment in New York City, overlooking the Hudson River, the lights of Jersey City flickering in the distance.

Newly born again, I remember my hands lifted high and my heart burning with desperation as I cried out, “Lord! Use me!”

And He did, and He does.

He gave me the privilege of serving—on the mission field, in the church, in hospitals, and anywhere I could find even a small place to pour out what He had first poured into me.

But it’s important to note that those acts of service, as good and fruitful as they were, were not yet calling. They were acts of obedience and love, but not yet the fullness of assignment.

Service is the soil, not the harvest. God delights in our willingness, but He shapes our purpose in hiddenness.

That’s why I thank God for the years I remained in the desert. I’m grateful for all the desert years that followed.

I often tell my husband I’m grateful I didn’t have children in my twenties; I personally wasn’t where I needed to be yet.

God has a way of preparing our hearts, even for that. The wilderness wasn’t wasted time; it was sacred time.

It wasn’t just a place of intimacy and preparation; it was a place of safety.

Safety for myself, and safety for others.

“He must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.” — 1 Timothy 3:6 (NLT)

Why God Uses the Desert

Sometimes God withholds platform to preserve purity. He allows obscurity to build stability. The desert slows you down long enough to let Him root your zeal in wisdom.

The desert became my university, my classroom of consecration. There, God taught me lessons that no pulpit or mission trip could have given.

He stripped away my performance and built endurance. He exchanged my striving for stillness. In the hush of hidden years, He trained my spirit to recognize His whisper.

So if you find yourself in that same classroom, don’t rush to graduate. There are degrees of depth only earned in the wilderness—degrees that give you the strength not only to walk out what God has for you, but to stand firm when the weight of calling comes.

Stand Firm When the Calling Comes

Ephesians 6:13 NKJVTherefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Closing Prayer

Father, teach us to position our hearts like Moses before the burning bush—to pause, to remove our shoes, and to recognize the holy ground of Your presence.Help us slow down enough to hear Your voice,to allow You to form us in the hidden places,to let You dig the deep foundation our calling requires.

Build our house upon the Rock—Your Word, Your wisdom, Your ways.Strip away every piece of scaffolding that isn’t from You,and strengthen every beam of faith You’ve placed within us.

Guard our zeal with wisdom,our passion with purity,and our steps with discernment.Let the wilderness do its work in usso that when You say “Go,”we rise with humility, authority, and a heart fully surrendered.

Make us faithful students in Your desert school,and when the time is right,make us faithful stewards of the calling You place upon our lives.

We say yes to Your fire.Yes to Your timing.Yes to Your foundation.And yes to Your voice.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.