“When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, ‘Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.’” (1 Samuel 24:1 ESV).
David’s time in the wilderness of En Gedi was not merely a season of hiding—it was a season of refining. Though he was anointed to be king, he found himself running for his life, dwelling in caves, and surviving on the margins. Yet, this wilderness wasn’t wasted. God used it to shape David into a leader after His own heart. During these difficult days, David wrote psalms that still minister to us today. He learned to lead with humility, depend on God’s provision, and walk in integrity—even when he had the opportunity to take matters into his own hands by killing Saul. David’s restraint in that moment revealed a heart that trusted God’s timing over his own ambition. The caves of En Gedi were not the end of David’s story—they were the training ground for his reign.
God often does His deepest work in our wilderness seasons. Like David, we may find ourselves in dark, uncomfortable, or uncertain places—not because God has forgotten us, but because He is forming us. It’s in those times that character is shaped, trust is tested, and dependence on God becomes real. When we’re tempted to take shortcuts or force outcomes, David’s example reminds us to wait on the Lord and walk with integrity. The trials we face today may be preparing us for the responsibilities God will entrust to us tomorrow.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us to see the wilderness as a place where You are working, not abandoning us. Teach us to lead ourselves and others with integrity, even when it’s hard. Give us faith to trust Your timing and to depend on Your provision. Like David, may we emerge from the difficulties of life ready for the calling You’ve prepared for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.