![Perspectives Into Practice | Walk with God podcast logo](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_200,h_200,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1770692402/perspectivesintopractice/podcast/93c1f77c54c8d7a9.jpg) Perspectives Into Practice Podcast September 15, 2026 Season 2, Episode 3900:22:52Published September 15, 2026 # Finding Joy in a Wilderness Season: Faith and Spiritual Growth When Life Is Hard ![Podcast episode artwork for Finding Joy in a Wilderness Season: Faith and Spiritual Growth When Life Is Hard](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_800,h_800,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1789441203/perspectivesintopractice/episode/671ab05c5215f9f2.jpg) Listen Now Click play to start listening Your browser does not support the audio element. [Listen or download audio](https://episodes.castos.com/67919520171485-95710309/2559184/c1e-x6996c1785xak3156-pk87r27dt0mo-uad60q.mp3) ![Podcast episode artwork for Finding Joy in a Wilderness Season: Faith and Spiritual Growth When Life Is Hard](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_384,h_384,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1789441203/perspectivesintopractice/episode/671ab05c5215f9f2.jpg) [Browse All Episodes](/podcast) Share This Episode Share episode on social media [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Finding%20Joy%20in%20a%20Wilderness%20Season%3A%20Faith%20and%20Spiritual%20Growth%20When%20Life%20Is%20Hard&url=undefined%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual)[Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=undefined%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual)[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=Finding%20Joy%20in%20a%20Wilderness%20Season%3A%20Faith%20and%20Spiritual%20Growth%20When%20Life%20Is%20Hard%20undefined%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual) ## About This Episode Have you ever looked at your circumstances and thought, "I should not have this much peace right now"? Life can be genuinely hard. We can walk through wilderness seasons where circumstances haven't changed, answers haven't come, and we don't necessarily feel joyful. But joy doesn't have to depend on life going well. In this episode of _Perspectives Into Practice_, I sit down with my friend Trisha to talk about what God has been teaching her about finding joy and peace in Him while walking through a difficult season. Trisha shares how God has reminded her through Deuteronomy 2 that He knows when we're walking through the wilderness. He hasn't forgotten us there. Looking back at her own season, she can see that even when life was incredibly difficult, God was with her, carrying her and providing what she needed. One Scripture became especially important to her: **"The joy of the Lord is your strength."** That joy didn't mean everything suddenly became easy. It wasn't pretending she wasn't hurting or forcing herself to be happy. It meant learning to draw her strength from God when she didn't have enough of her own. We talk about the difference between happiness and the kind of joy that comes from God, and some of the simple practices that have helped Trisha keep returning to Him. Sometimes it's noticing the rain she prayed for. Sometimes it's sitting still long enough to feel the wind or hear the birds. Sometimes it's writing down three things she's grateful for, laughing when life has become too serious, or staying in God's Word longer instead of giving up because she didn't immediately hear from Him. There is so much beauty around us that we can miss when we're moving too quickly. And sometimes finding God in a wilderness season begins by slowing down enough to notice that He has been there all along. ### In this episode, we discuss: - Finding joy when your circumstances haven't changed - The difference between happiness and joy in God - Trusting God through a wilderness season - What Deuteronomy 2 teaches us about God's presence in the wilderness - Finding strength in the joy of the Lord - Recognizing God's provision when life is difficult - Slowing down enough to notice what God is doing - Finding God in simple, ordinary moments - Sitting with God instead of rushing through time with Him - Persevering in Scripture when you don't immediately hear from God - Choosing gratitude in difficult seasons - Using laughter and gratitude to shift your perspective - Being honest with God when you don't feel joyful - Seeking God instead of trying to create joy in your own strength Friend, if you're walking through a wilderness season right now, you don't have to pretend that it isn't hard. You don't have to manufacture joy or make yourself feel something you don't. Go to God honestly. Tell Him where you are. Sit with Him. Stay awhile. Look around. Look back. Pay attention to the small ways He's caring for you that may be easy to miss when you're focused on everything that hasn't changed yet. Your circumstances don't have to be perfect for you to experience the goodness of God. And if you've been craving a place to walk through seasons like this with other Christian women who are learning to notice God, share what He's doing, and practice their faith in real life, I'd love to invite you into **The Story Haven**. It's a free community built around honest stories, real faith, and genuine connection. Come find your people at **TheStoryHaven.net**. And if God is doing something in your life right now that you feel called to share, I'd love to hear your story. Visit **PerspectivesIntoPractice.com** to learn more about becoming a guest on the podcast. ## 📝 Related Blogs 4 blog articles inspired by this episode [ ![Featured image for How to Recognize God's Provision in a Wilderness Season](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_640,h_640,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1789483056/perspectivesintopractice/blog/how-recognize-gods-provision-wilderness-season-1789483055863.jpg) Blog article ## How to Recognize God's Provision in a Wilderness Season Learn how to recognize God’s provision in a wilderness season through Scripture, gratitude, stillness, and the quiet evidence of His faithful presence. Read related article: How to Recognize God's Provision in a Wilderness Season ](/blog/how-recognize-gods-provision-wilderness-season) [ ![Featured image for Christian Joy in Hard Times: Choosing Hope Honestly](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_640,h_640,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1789483075/perspectivesintopractice/blog/christian-joy-hard-times-choosing-hope-honestly-1789483074987.jpg) Blog article ## Christian Joy in Hard Times: Choosing Hope Honestly Christian joy in hard times does not mean pretending life is easy. Learn to notice God’s presence, practice gratitude, and choose hope with honesty. Read related article: Christian Joy in Hard Times: Choosing Hope Honestly ](/blog/christian-joy-hard-times-choosing-hope-honestly) [ ![Featured image for God's Timing for My Calling When Comparison Hurts](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_640,h_640,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1789483092/perspectivesintopractice/blog/gods-timing-my-calling-when-comparison-hurts-1789483091878.jpg) Blog article ## God's Timing for My Calling When Comparison Hurts Comparing your calling to someone else’s success can shake your faith. Learn to trust God’s timing, stay in your lane, and find peace in waiting. Read related article: God's Timing for My Calling When Comparison Hurts ](/blog/gods-timing-my-calling-when-comparison-hurts) [ ![Featured image for Simple Practices to Find God Through Stillness and Prayer](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_640,h_640,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1789483112/perspectivesintopractice/blog/simple-practices-find-god-through-stillness-prayer-1789483111999.jpg) Blog article ## Simple Practices to Find God Through Stillness and Prayer Discover simple practices to find God through stillness, gratitude, and honest prayer, even when life feels hard, rushed, or uncertain. Read related article: Simple Practices to Find God Through Stillness and Prayer ](/blog/simple-practices-find-god-through-stillness-prayer) ### Episode Transcript (4,456 words) \[2 Speakers Detected\] \[Total Utterances: 60\] --- \[0:01 -> 1:23\] Speaker 1: Hey friend, welcome to Perspectives into Practice, a place where life's stories meet practical wisdom. Together, we'll explore how faith-filled perspectives can transform the way we live, love, and grow. So grab a seat, set... ### Share This Episode [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Finding%20Joy%20in%20a%20Wilderness%20Season%3A%20Faith%20and%20Spiritual%20Growth%20When%20Life%20Is%20Hard&url=https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual "Share on Twitter")[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual "Share on Facebook")[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual "Share on LinkedIn")[WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=Finding%20Joy%20in%20a%20Wilderness%20Season%3A%20Faith%20and%20Spiritual%20Growth%20When%20Life%20Is%20Hard%20https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual "Share on WhatsApp")[Email](mailto:?subject=Finding%20Joy%20in%20a%20Wilderness%20Season%3A%20Faith%20and%20Spiritual%20Growth%20When%20Life%20Is%20Hard&body=https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual "Share on Email")[Reddit](https://reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual&title=Finding%20Joy%20in%20a%20Wilderness%20Season%3A%20Faith%20and%20Spiritual%20Growth%20When%20Life%20Is%20Hard "Share on Reddit")[Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fperspectivesintopractice.com%2Fpodcast%2Ffinding-joy-in-a-wilderness-season-faith-and-spiritual&description=Finding%20Joy%20in%20a%20Wilderness%20Season%3A%20Faith%20and%20Spiritual%20Growth%20When%20Life%20Is%20Hard "Share on Pinterest") ## More Episodes You Might Enjoy [ ![Podcast episode artwork for Trusting God When Healing Hasn't Come: Faith, Chronic Pain, and Unanswered Prayers](https://res.cloudinary.com/guidedsteps/image/upload/w_640,h_640,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto/v1791687607/perspectivesintopractice/episode/c84c9e34349b85c8.jpg) Season 2, Episode 41 Podcast episode ## Trusting God When Healing Hasn't Come: Faith, Chronic Pain, and Unanswered Prayers Have you ever prayed for something for so long that you started wondering when God was going to answer? 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