16th January - Sustained in the Wilderness

Reading: Matthew 4:1-11; Isaiah 42:1-4

Devotional: Immediately after the baptism, Jesus entered the wilderness to be tested. The Father's delight didn't disappear when things got tough. We often interpret struggle as God's disappointment, assuming difficulty means failure. But the Jordan teaches us differently: God's delight rests on those learning to trust even when the path is hard. The Spirit that came upon Jesus didn't make him impressive to the world; it sustained him. That same Spirit works in us. When life gets difficult this week, remember the Jordan. Drop the religious mask. Pray honest prayers: "God, I'm anxious. You feel distant." Resist damage control when you mess up. The one who stood in the Jordan stands with you in the mess and mud today.