The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

Mark 1:12-13 (NLT)

Compelled. Pushed. Insisted. Directed. Encouraged.

Wilderness. Desert. Wasteland. Dryness. Isolation. Loneliness. Heat. Dehydration. Danger.

Satan. Devil. Tempter. Prince of Darkness. Evil One. Adversary. Fiend. Beast.

40 days. Desert. Dryness. Isolation. Loneliness. Heat. Dehydration. Danger.

Temptation. Enticement. Cajole. Coax. Test. Tease. Sweet-talk. Misdirect.

Wild Animals. Beasts. Lions. Bears. Wolves. Jackals. Vipers. Cobras. Scorpions.

Jesus, the Son of God, in starting his ministry, receives his first assignment which is quite literally a vacation from hell. EXCEPT, angels took care of him. Well, that’s a twist, isn’t it?

Jesus faces a big challenge on all fronts, but heaven hasn’t forgotten him. He is exposed to the wild beasts, the elements, and the devil himself, but angels meet his needs.

There are times in our lives when we also find ourselves in difficult circumstances, long periods of temptation and danger and isolation...but God hasn’t abandoned us. Certainly, the odds are not in our favor when we look at our surroundings, but we are never alone. The outlook might be bleak, but God is watching us, caring for us, taking care of us.

You may be facing this situation even today. The battle, the pain, the struggle is real. No one is doubting that, and we are never alone.