February 26th, 2026
by James McRae
by James McRae
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”
It may surprise us that Jesus does not go from His baptism straight into public ministry. Instead, the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness. Not away from danger—but into it. Not toward comfort—but toward testing.
The wilderness in Scripture is always a place of formation. Israel was shaped there. Moses was shaped there. Elijah was shaped there. And now Jesus, the Son of God, steps into that same lonely, difficult space—not because He is weak, but because obedience often requires preparation through struggle.
Matthew tells us Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights. That number is not accidental. It echoes Israel’s forty years in the wilderness and Moses’ forty days on Sinai. Where Israel failed, Jesus will remain faithful. Where others stumbled, He will stand. But do not miss the humanity of this moment: “He was afterward an hungred.” Jesus does not face temptation as a detached, untouched deity. He faces it as a hungry, tired, physically weakened man. This is real testing. Real pressure. Real vulnerability. Lent mirrors this pattern. We step into small wilderness spaces on purpose—through fasting, simplicity, reflection—not to prove how spiritual we are, but to let God show us what truly rules our hearts. Hunger reveals priorities. Silence reveals attachments. Discomfort reveals dependence.
The wilderness is not punishment. It is preparation. It is where false supports fall away and true trust is formed.
If you are in a hard season right now, don’t assume God has abandoned you. You may be exactly where He is shaping you most deeply. The same Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness also strengthened Him to walk out of it in power.
Prayer:
Father, when You lead me into difficult places, help me to trust Your purpose. Use this season to strip away what is false and strengthen what is true. Teach me to depend on You more than comfort. Amen.
It may surprise us that Jesus does not go from His baptism straight into public ministry. Instead, the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness. Not away from danger—but into it. Not toward comfort—but toward testing.
The wilderness in Scripture is always a place of formation. Israel was shaped there. Moses was shaped there. Elijah was shaped there. And now Jesus, the Son of God, steps into that same lonely, difficult space—not because He is weak, but because obedience often requires preparation through struggle.
Matthew tells us Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights. That number is not accidental. It echoes Israel’s forty years in the wilderness and Moses’ forty days on Sinai. Where Israel failed, Jesus will remain faithful. Where others stumbled, He will stand. But do not miss the humanity of this moment: “He was afterward an hungred.” Jesus does not face temptation as a detached, untouched deity. He faces it as a hungry, tired, physically weakened man. This is real testing. Real pressure. Real vulnerability. Lent mirrors this pattern. We step into small wilderness spaces on purpose—through fasting, simplicity, reflection—not to prove how spiritual we are, but to let God show us what truly rules our hearts. Hunger reveals priorities. Silence reveals attachments. Discomfort reveals dependence.
The wilderness is not punishment. It is preparation. It is where false supports fall away and true trust is formed.
If you are in a hard season right now, don’t assume God has abandoned you. You may be exactly where He is shaping you most deeply. The same Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness also strengthened Him to walk out of it in power.
Prayer:
Father, when You lead me into difficult places, help me to trust Your purpose. Use this season to strip away what is false and strengthen what is true. Teach me to depend on You more than comfort. Amen.
Posted in LENT
James McRae
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Lent Day 12 - Psalm 150:1-6Lent Day 1: Joel 2:12–13Lent Day 2: Psalm 51:1–2Lent Day 3: Matthew 4:1–2Lent Day 4 - Matthew 4:4Lent Day 6 - Luke 5:10–11Lent Day 7 - Luke 5:10–11Lent Day 8 - John 1:38–39Lent Day 9 - Jeremiah 2:8Lent Day 10 - 1 Kings 18 and 19Lent Day 11 - John 4:13-14Lent Day 5 - Matthew 4:10–11
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