Resting in the Wilderness of Shur
When You Feel Hemmed In, You’re Not Alone
We all walk through seasons we wouldn’t choose. You know the kind—dry, disorienting, disappointing. The job that drains you. The relationship that doesn’t seem to heal. The waiting that stretches far too long. Scripture calls this the wilderness, and one of the first wildernesses God led His people through was Shur.
Exodus 15:22 says:
“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.”
The word Shur means “wall” or “hemmed in.” Can you relate? Maybe you’ve felt blocked on every side, like you can’t move forward. But this wilderness isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of something sacred.
The Purpose in Your Dry Places
The people of Israel didn’t wander into the wilderness by accident. They were following the cloud of God’s presence—right into limitation. Why? Because the wilderness wasn’t punishment. It was preparation.
In the land of Shur, they faced their first test after deliverance. No water. No answers. Just desert.
That may be where you are now, parched, confused, wondering why God brought you here. But the truth is, He’s still with you. His presence hovers just as it did over Israel, guiding you even when the road feels rough.
Resting in the Wilderness Isn’t Giving Up—it’s Giving In
When we talk about REST—Release Everything, Surrender Totally—this is where it matters most. Resting in the wilderness isn’t passive. It’s an act of trust.
Just like Jesus, who was led by the Spirit into the wilderness after His baptism (Luke 4:1-2), we too are often led into trials after breakthrough. That test isn’t punishment. It’s proof of identity. You’re God’s beloved. That’s why you’re here. And He’ll meet you in the middle of it.
The End of Your Strength Is the Start of His
At Marah, the people found water, but it was bitter. God told Moses to throw in a piece of wood, and the waters turned sweet. That wood points us to the cross. It’s the place where bitterness becomes blessing when surrendered to God.
Exodus 15:25 says:
“There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.”
Testing always precedes transformation. If you’re thirsty, broken, or bitter, pause. Release the striving. Surrender the outcome. And let God meet you in the dry place.
The Wilderness Isn’t Forever
The sooner we stop fighting the wilderness and start learning from it, the sooner we’re transformed by it. The wilderness is the classroom of trust. God brings us here not to break us, but to build our faith.
So today, rest. Not in your strength, but in His. Release everything. Surrender totally. Because even here—especially here—He is enough.
