Prompt: John the Baptist spent a lot of time in the wilderness. Share about a favorite spot in the wilderness (could include a photo). Why do you enjoy it?
John the Baptist spent much of his life in the wilderness—a place that stripped away comfort, noise, and distraction until all that remained was the presence of God. I understand why he went there. My own wilderness lies in the forest surrounding Lake Coeur d’Alene in glorious Northern Idaho.
My forest is alive in a way that words struggle to capture. When I enter it, I am compelled to slow down. The air is thick with pine and prayer. The canopy stretches high above me, wild and humbling, yet somehow tender—like the sheltering wings of God Himself. The forest floor whispers its secrets: the soft crunch of needles underfoot, the glint of sunlight through moss and mushrooms, the quiet pulse of life hidden beneath leaves.
This is where I take off my sandals, figuratively and spiritually. It is holy ground. Here, there are no phone notifications, no obligations—just God and me. I listen, not with my ears but with my heart. God’s voice is steady, not loud, but unmistakable in its clarity.
In this quiet, I understand why John chose the wilderness. Away from crowds and cities, he could tune his life to the rhythm of God’s will. The wilderness isn’t empty—it’s full of divine presence for those willing to be still long enough to notice.
As I look from the forest out over Lake Coeur d’Alene, I’m reminded that this world is God’s masterpiece—and that I, too, am one of His creations. In that realization, awe and gratitude rise together. The Advent season invites that same stillness: a slowing down, a turning away from noise so that the voice of God can be heard again.
The forest is my wilderness and sanctuary, my sacred ground. It is where I remember that I am God’s beloved daughter, created in His image, and that He meets me best when I step away from everything else to listen and pray.
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