The Goal Of The Wilderness Is To Pass The Test
One thing I’ve learned about the wilderness is that the goal isn’t just to survive it. The goal is to pass the test.
Not the financial test. Not the career test. The character test.
The test of whether you’ll continue to trust God when your circumstances don’t match what He promised.
A lot of people have asked me how I know this move, this journey, and this calling are from God. My answer is simple:
Because every step has drawn me closer to Him.
Closer in prayer, dependence on God, stronger in faith, and operating in full authenticity of who I am. The wilderness has stripped away every place I used to hide and forced me to stand before God exactly as I am. And while that’s been uncomfortable, it’s also been necessary. Because God can’t bless where we pretend to be.
I think that’s why Jesus came out of the wilderness with such confidence and conviction in who He was and what He was sent to do. As my pastor @zoechurchla has said God shapes us before He sends us. He prepares us before He promotes us. He establishes our identity before He expands our influence. And for me, that’s exactly what’s happening.
I’m no longer saying I want to be a full-time content creator. I am one. I’m no longer saying I want to model. I do.
The wilderness has been teaching me to stand firmly in the calling God placed on my life, regardless of how things look today. So if you’re in a wilderness season too, don’t waste it.
PASS THE TEST!!!
The wilderness season in life often feels like a time of struggle and vulnerability. I’ve personally experienced moments where I felt completely exposed and questioned my self-sufficiency, much like the imagery of Adam feeling shame in the garden. These times strip us of our usual defenses and force us to confront what’s truly inside — our faith, dependence, and authenticity. What makes the wilderness so uniquely transformative is its ability to test our character beyond just survival skills or material success. It tests whether we can continue to trust God even when the promises we’ve held on to seem delayed or unmet. In my journey, this meant learning to move past feelings of shame and embarrassment that arise when we are nothing but vulnerable and facing the unknown. This process is not easy — it’s marked by moments where you feel like you have nothing left to hold onto. Yet it’s precisely in these moments that God works profoundly, shaping our identity and preparing us for what lies ahead. Just as Moses led the Israelites into the wilderness where the Tabernacle was built as a symbol of God’s presence, our personal wilderness seasons invite us to build an inner tabernacle where God can dwell fully with us. Trusting God in the wilderness has taught me to embrace my weaknesses and stop hiding behind façades. I realized that God’s blessings cannot enter the parts where we pretend to be someone we’re not. This revelation brought me closer in prayer, strengthened my faith, and allowed me to operate more authentically in my calling — as a content creator and a model, roles I now live fully instead of just aspiring toward. If you are currently navigating your own wilderness, remember that this season is more than just a trial; it’s a test designed to refine your character and deepen your relationship with God. Embrace it as an opportunity to grow, to shed what no longer serves you, and to step into your true identity. Passing this test isn’t just about enduring hardship — it’s about coming out stronger, more confident, and fully aligned with God’s purpose for your life. Don’t waste this season. Stand firm in faith, even when it’s uncomfortable. Like Jesus emerged from the wilderness with clarity and confidence, so can you. Let your wilderness be the place where God prepares you before He promotes you, shapes your identity before He expands your influence, and deepens your trust as you pass the ultimate character test.