The Cries in the Wilderness

Exodus 3:7

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.”

The world seems to grow darker with each passing day. It breaks God’s heart to see history repeating itself. Just as the Israelites once turned away from Him, many of us are walking down the same path today. The truth is distorted, and what is wrong in God’s eyes is justified to fulfill selfish desires. People have become consumed with selfishness, chasing empty desires, and many live in search of satisfaction—only to find ruin.

We are constantly filling the voids in our hearts with things of this world, believing they will lead to satisfaction and make life worthwhile. But we are forgetting the very reason we are here—to know God and love Him. That is the only way to truly live, not just exist.

I once had a conversation with a friend at work. We were cleaning up lesson materials and went over some English questions for our students. She accidentally read the question, “What is your purpose?” She honestly said she didn’t know. She said that she was just trying to live and support herself and her family with the job she had.

I jokingly told her, “I actually know your purpose. I know the answer to the question. Do you want me to tell you?” I was so grateful to God for that moment. Afterward, we started doing small group Bible studies where I helped her reconnect with God.

Her honest answer made me think deeply about the question many of us struggle to answer: What is your real purpose? The world may say any answer will do, but the truth is, what can we gain from this world that we can take with us when we die? Nothing. That shows that the things we chase here are ultimately empty. God knows this. He sees how hard we work to achieve these things, only to find that after we get what we want, there is no lasting contentment. The list of desires just grows, and we end up lost, not knowing where it all started to go wrong.

The reason we feel this way is simple: we leave God out of the journey. We try to live without Him, which breaks God’s heart. He created us not just to exist but to live for Him, to know Him and walk in His ways. That’s why the verse above says He is concerned about our suffering. God cares for our lives and how we are navigating it.

One of my favorite realizations about God is this: He doesn’t need us to exist, but His actions feel like it. He constantly chooses to give us His time and all of His being. He even sent His Son for us. In truth, God could have wiped us out with a snap of His fingers, yet He doesn’t. Why? Not because we deserve it, but because He loves us unconditionally-agape love.

Matthew 19:8

He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.”

This verse shows that because of the hardness of our hearts, we try to change what God has designed for our good. God never created anything that would harm us. His plans for us are always good and perfect.

In this book, I want to attempt something that feels impossible: to express the depths of God’s heart and the wildernesses we face. I know I’ll never fully succeed—how could anyone? But still, I feel called to try.

While writing this chapter, God reminded me of a verse:

Genesis 6:6

“And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart.”

This was during the time of Noah. God regretted creating humanity—not because He made a mistake, but because He was deeply grieved by the evil that had consumed His creation.

And here we are, centuries later, doing the same things. The times have changed, but the heart of man is still stubborn and hardened.

Imagine, just for a moment, God looking at you—seeing everything you’ve done, are doing, and will do. Every intention of your heart, whether good or evil. He sees it all. Now picture yourself looking into His eyes as He grieves over you—crying, heartbroken over the choices you’ve made that are slowly destroying your life. It breaks His heart.

Let me step out of the story for a moment.

One of my daily habits is to take walks with God. During these walks, I talk to Him like a friend. I laugh with Him, cry with Him, even tease Him. I’m sure I look crazy to others on the road, so I wear earphones with no music playing, just to make it seem like I’m on a call.

One evening during a walk, I asked God, “God, why? Who are we to be loved by You this much? Aren’t You tired of us? Well… of course You’re not. Why do I even ask? Right, God?” I jokingly asked and then answered myself.

I chuckled, but then I heard a whisper in my heart—not in anger, not in disappointment, but in love. I felt like it was God speaking:

“I do not hate you, or mankind, I hate the sins. They do not know what they are doing. I hear their sins as cries—cries in the wilderness. My people are calling out for help, desperate for Me. But they don’t know it or are too prideful to admit it. Everyone is just trying to survive. They are tired, hopeless, and lifeless. Always searching for more—but never satisfied. I see their hearts. I see the depths of it all. And I am hurting for them more than anything.”

I hope I remembered every word from that moment. I could feel His heartache for His people. His grief wasn’t out of anger, but compassion.

As I write this first chapter, I still don’t know exactly who this book is for. Is it for those called to be voices for others? Or is it for those who are crying out themselves, lost in the wilderness?

What I do know is this: God placed this book in my heart, and I trust He will place it in the hands of those who need it.

My prayer is simple—that these words would touch lives and speak to the deepest parts of someone’s heart. Whether you are the one crying out or the one called to hear and respond—this book is for you.