Why God Allows Wilderness Seasons | Waiting on God, Unanswered Prayers, Deuteronomy 9

Have you ever felt like God is silent? Like your prayers are going unanswered, progress is painfully slow, and you are doing everything you know to do — praying, trusting, showing up — yet still feel stuck in a wilderness season?

In this solo episode of the Redeemed Podcast, Lauren Burns shares a heartfelt biblical encouragement for anyone walking through a long season of waiting, grief, uncertainty, or spiritual dryness. Drawing from Deuteronomy 9, Lauren unpacks how Moses reminded the Israelites that their wilderness journey was not wasted. What felt like delay was actually preparation. God was shaping their hearts, stripping away pride, and teaching them to trust Him fully before entering the Promised Land.

Lauren also shares parts of her own story — including the trauma of being kidnapped by her father as a child, the anger and confusion that followed, and how God used her wilderness season to bring healing, purpose, and redemption.

If you are asking:

• Why is this season taking so long?
• What is God doing while I wait?
• Why do I feel spiritually dry?
• How do I trust God when I cannot see Him working?

This episode is for you.

You’ll be reminded that God has not forgotten you, your prayers are not wasted, and your wilderness season may be the very place where God is preparing you for what is ahead.

In this episode, Lauren talks about:

• Why wilderness seasons feel so painful and confusing
• What Deuteronomy 9 teaches us about waiting on God
• How pride and self-reliance can delay spiritual growth
• What the Israelites’ 40-year journey reveals about obedience and trust
• Lauren’s personal testimony of trauma, healing, and redemption
• Why God still hears every prayer you have prayed
• The importance of community during hard seasons
• How forgiveness and surrender lead to freedom
• Why your wilderness is not the end of your story

Key Scriptures Mentioned

• Deuteronomy 9
• Psalm 107:2
• Proverbs 8
• Matthew 4:3–4

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: What is a wilderness season?
01:12 When God feels silent and prayers seem unanswered
02:20 Lauren’s Bible reading journey and the Bible Recap
04:20 Why Deuteronomy matters and what Moses was reminding Israel
06:18 The wilderness was preparation, not punishment
08:05 Pride, disobedience, and why an 11-day journey became 40 years
10:12 Slave mentality, trust, and God reshaping His people
12:28 Lauren’s childhood story: kidnapping, rescue, and anger toward God
16:10 Healing begins when we stop hiding and let God into the pain
18:05 God hears every prayer, even the ones prayed years ago
20:15 Community matters in the waiting season
21:30 Deuteronomy 9: it was not because of their righteousness
24:15 God keeps His promises, even in long seasons of waiting
26:05 Lauren on forgiveness, father wounds, and healing
29:00 Pride, surrender, and trusting God in the wilderness
31:35 Jesus in the wilderness and what testing reveals
33:20 Wilderness seasons break pride and teach dependence on God
35:05 Lauren’s

the Forgiveness Freedom Kit, a seven-day devotional journal and affirmation guide to help you walk through the process of forgiveness and find freedom for your heart. Download Lauren’s Free Forgiveness Freedom Kit (7-Day Devotional Journal + Affirmations)

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