Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter from my book, Divine Wilderness: Discovering God in Difficult Seasons. I hope you find it both encouraging and thought-provoking.

This chapter, "Wilderness Parents," was inspired by the striking contrast between the generation that faithfully circumcised their children while living as slaves in Egypt and the generation that neglected that same responsibility while wandering in the wilderness. It explores the reality that seasons of hardship can either deepen our faithfulness or tempt us to relax our spiritual priorities—and that our choices inevitably shape our children. My prayer is that this chapter encourages parents to remain faithful in teaching, training, and modeling a wholehearted walk with God, even in life's most difficult seasons.

If you enjoy the chapter and would like to read more, Divine Wilderness: Discovering God in Difficult Seasons is available on Amazon.

Boaz, in the Book of Ruth, gives four qualities that help us understand what a good father looks like (ironically, before he ever becomes one). These qualities are not limited to fathers. They belong wherever people are entrusted to one another: in friendships, marriage, pastoral care, teaching, work, and management (life presents us with a long list of possibilities!).