This Sunday at New Beginnings Church, we’re starting a new series called “The Purpose of the Wilderness.” And instead of beginning at the start of Israel’s story, we’re stepping into a moment of consequence, right in the middle of Numbers 14.

It’s here that everything shifts.

God’s people had seen His faithfulness. They had witnessed miracles, provision, and promises fulfilled. And yet, when faced with fear and uncertainty, they chose not to trust Him. The result? A return to the wilderness. Because sometimes, the wilderness is where God does His deepest work.

When We Don’t Trust the Promise

If we’re honest, it’s not hard to relate.

We’ve all had moments where we’ve seen God move, and still struggled to trust Him in the next step. Moments where fear feels louder than faith. Moments where the future feels uncertain, and the promise feels just out of reach.

The Israelites weren’t just wandering aimlessly. They were learning.

Learning what it means to trust.
Learning what it means to obey.
Learning what it means to follow God fully.

And until they did, they weren’t ready for what He had for them.

Strength, Courage, and Obedience

There’s a powerful thread that runs through this story, echoed later in Book of Joshua 1:7:

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”

As Pastor Josh shared:

“Until they learn to do that, they aren’t ready for what God has for them. They had to go to the wilderness to understand that though.”

The wilderness wasn’t the end. It was the training ground.

A place where trust is tested.
Where obedience is refined.
Where courage is formed. It doesn’t happen in comfort, but in dependence on God.

The Wilderness Has a Purpose

It’s easy to think of the wilderness as a place of being stuck.

A place where nothing is happening.
Where prayers feel unanswered.
Where progress feels slow or nonexistent.

But what if something is happening?

What if God is shaping your faith in ways that can’t happen anywhere else?
What if He’s preparing you for something you’re not quite ready for yet?
What if the wilderness isn’t wasted time, but necessary time?

An Invitation

If you’re in a season that feels uncertain, dry, or difficult, you’re not alone.

And more importantly, you’re not without purpose.

This series is an invitation to look at the wilderness differently. To ask the hard questions. To see how God works in the waiting, the testing, and the unknown.

Because the same God who led His people through the wilderness is still leading today.

And He is still at work.

Join Us

We’d love for you to join us this Sunday as we begin “The Purpose of the Wilderness.”

🕙 Sundays at 10 AM
📍 New Beginnings Church | Brooklyn, Iowa

Whether you’ve been walking with God for years or you’re just beginning to ask questions, there’s a place for you here.