Psalm 111 is all about celebrating God. Like fans cheering when their team wins, we should cheer for God because He never fails, never breaks a promise, and always shows up. Celebration isn’t about how we feel, it’s a choice. The psalm gives us five steps: choose to celebrate, remember what God has done, see who He really is, trust His promises, and keep praising Him every day. If we see God clearly, we won’t be able to stop praising Him. The challenge: don’t just watch others worship, join in and make praise your way of life.

Jesus shows us that the wilderness is the space between identity and ministry. At His baptism, God declared who He was: “My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Immediately after, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness where He faced testing and temptation. The wilderness revealed truth, demanded self-denial, and exposed Him to Satan’s attacks. Jesus was tested to prove His character and tempted to abandon His mission - through questions of His identity, God’s love, and His purpose. Yet He stood firm. The same is true for us: if God is preparing us for something, there will be a battle for our lives. The enemy wants to derail us before we ever step into God’s calling. But we are not alone, God sends strength and reinforcement. The wilderness shapes us into people who not only know what we believe but live it.

The Core Truth If you choose Jesus, you will face the wilderness. And it’s there, between calling and ministry, that God prepares you to live out your purpose.

Life can swing quickly from the mountaintop to the wilderness. Elijah knew this in 1 Kings 19: after bold victories, he crashed into fear, exhaustion, and despair. God used that wilderness moment to teach him, and us, four truths: (1) you can be right with God and still face hardship (2) rest and nourishment matter for spiritual clarity (3) God speaks in whispers, so quiet the noise (4) feeling alone doesn’t mean you are alone.

If burnout has broken you down, God is ready to build you back up. Rest in Him. Listen for His voice. Lean on community. Step forward in His strength.