Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste: God's Purpose in Suffering and Struggles

by Dustin Crowe

The wilderness can be scary—a place full of peril and desolation. And it can feel meaningless. But when we read the Scriptures, the wilderness is also the place God reveals Himself and cares for the people He loves. Pastor Dustin Crowe explores the biblical theme of the wilderness, helping readers counter the harsh, seemingly hopeless seasons in their lives with hope and courage.

The wilderness is often the place where God grows our faith and proves His faithfulness. But to grow, we must be intentional about listening and leaning into His provision. Looking to wilderness stories of the Bible—including Hagar, Moses, David, Eijah, and Jesus—Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste shows who God is and how He’s at work. Readers will find encouragement in His good purposes as they experience God’s sustaining and shaping grace in their lives.

The wilderness has a dual nature, with both threats to our faith and opportunities to grow in faith. As we depend on God, we discover how to worship in our wilderness rather than waste it. Whether you’re in a season of significant transition, spiritual apathy, heartbreak, waiting, or a time of trial and testing, God invites you to come close—to experience His provision and power—Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste shows us how.

Genres: Christian Non Fiction, Christian, Christian Living

200 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Dustin is the Discipleship Pastor at Stones Crossing Church in Greenwood, IN (just outside of Indianapolis). He's married to Melissa and has two young kids. He has written for magazines like Christianity Today and websites such as The Gospel Coalition, 9Marks, Gospel-Centered Discipleship, and For the Church. You can find more resources from him at indycrowe.com

Reviews

[Glenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC for endorsement purposes, so here's my blurb:

We tend to view a spiritual wilderness as a path to circumvent, often praying for a different road we can take to bypass the dry seasons of waiting, confusion, and suffering. But God doesn’t do anything arbitrarily, so when He draws us into a wilderness, He has much for us there. In Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste, Dustin Crowe shows us the blessings of running to the Lord rather than away from Him in our wilderness wanderings. Rather than waste the lessons and growth we find in the desert, we cannot only survive the wilderness road—we can worship on it. I loved this book and commend it to anyone who has asked the Lord for a different path.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the perfect read for me as I walked through a personal wilderness at the end of 2025. What an encouragement it was to remember that God has not left me to fend for myself in the wilderness but that His guiding hand and grace are next to me as He leads me through a seasoning of suffering and struggles.

[Emily Waits (emilylovesreading_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.)

From the publisher: “The wilderness is often the place where God grows our faith and proves His faithfulness. But to grow, we must be intentional about listening and leaning into His provision. Looking to wilderness stories of the Bible—including Hagar, Moses, David, Eijah, and Jesus—Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste shows who God is and how He’s at work. Readers will find encouragement in His good purposes as they experience God’s sustaining and shaping grace in their lives.”

This book was fantastic. “Your Wilderness is Not a Waste: God’s Purpose in Suffering and Struggles” is compassionate, packed with truth straight from scripture, well-researched, and at times humorous–which I appreciated. The author wrote this important book in such an approachable way, and I think that believers will find an abundance of encouragement in this title and its reminders of God’s promises and God’s faithfulness in the lives of the saints throughout the bible who found themselves in their own wildernesses. I know I personally felt really encouraged by this title!

Highly recommend!

[Bonnie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

For people struggling with lengthy trials, this book reminds us that suffering is not wasted because of all the ways the Lord uses struggles to grow our character, perseverance and strength.

[SarahReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lord does so much work in our lives when we go through trials and difficulties as believers. The author does a thorough job of pointing out areas of growth and lessons we can learn using examples from God's Word. I particularly gleaned a lot from the chapter about Israel and idolotry and I enjoyed the last example of Jesus in the Wilderness using God's Word in the wilderness he experienced.
Since God doesn't promise us that we will have perfect lives when we become believers, each of us will go through our own Wilderness experiences in this life, therefore I believe this book will be a benefit to every Christian to ready themselves for what they are going through now or what will come their way down the road.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book to start my new year off with! Dustin Crowe shares biblical truth to how Christians can not just “survive” life’s wilderness, but grow and become closer to our Heavenly Father. If you have walked through a wilderness, are in the wilderness, or have walked along with someone in their wilderness then this book is for you! Have your highlighter and notebook handy- these truths will be beneficial and life giving in the hard seasons of life yet to come.

[Shiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little book to encourage you in your faith journey when you feel lost, discouraged or tired in your suffering or waiting. Author draws examples from the Bible- ordinary woman like Hagar, famous person like Moses, struggles of the nation Israel itself and from lives of David, Elijah, Jesus himself. Great words of wisdom rooted in the scripture and Dustin keeps going back to the Bible to show how wilderness can be a way to return to God rather than running away from Him. Pick this book to reflect back on a period of wilderness to see God’s faithfulness or for the sweet encouragement we need when we are discouraged or just read through how amazingly God works in ways we can never imagine.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a comforting reminder that the hard, confusing seasons of life are not wasted — they’re places where God meets us. 🤍🌾

Crowe shows how the wilderness—waiting, transition, heartbreak, or spiritual dryness—is often where God reveals His presence and care in the most tender ways. 💛

My favorite part was Hagar’s story:

“While Hagar runs into the wilderness to hide from it all, it’s there she discovers she’s never been hidden from God.”

She walked into the wilderness alone… but left seen, known, and deeply loved. 🕊️

Four reminders from her story:
✨ God doesn’t abandon you.
✨ He reveals Himself in new ways.
✨ He provides and protects.
✨ He grows your faith when you trust Him.

Your wilderness isn’t a waste — God is working even here. 🤍🌿

[Audrey Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. While I read it solo, it would make a great group read as the author provides discussion (reflection) questions.

I found this book incredibly encouraging and relatable. Crowe uses some personal stories and history to share introduce his points. My goodreads reading updates throughout the book highlight some of my favorite quotes, but ultimately the message of this book is to hide yourself in God’s Word, meditating on His truth because we will walk through seasons of varying wildernesses and the only real way out is through Christ.

Oftentimes Christians can be difficult and annoying in seasons of suffering, while trying to come alongside friends in most genuine, but sometimes unhelpful ways. I think the phrase “toxic positivity” gets batted around frequently to well-meaning people when it comes to speaking Truth in the midst of hard circumstances. While this book does speak truth to difficulties, this book isn’t that. This book offers real hope and encouragement (while recognizing we will suffer and sin and things will be hard); Crowe emphasizes our need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, learning from his perfect example in temptations and sitting in community when you want to isolate yourself from the world.

“God’s goodness and love poured out eclipses hardships endured. What ultimately defines the wilderness isn’t so much the circumstances faced as what God reveals about Himself and does for, in, and through me. My life and my wilderness have been blessed by God’s goodness purposes, gracious promises, and the gift of His presence.”

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste, Dustin Crowe details God’s purpose in suffering and struggles. This book offers courage and hope when it feels like you’re spiritually lost, scared, wandering, or waiting.

Crowe examines the lives of Old Testament saints, the nation of Israel, and the life of Jesus to show how God uses the wilderness to grow and strengthen our faith. There is purpose in the pain, and we can learn to trust God in our trials. Hagar, Moses, David, and Elijah are studied with excellent insight.


Sustained by Grace, Covered with Love

What I found most interesting was what Crowe reveals about the nation of Israel. I clearly saw the emphasis that God placed on their daily reliance on Him to provide for them. In fact, this theme of daily grace rings throughout the Bible. I am challenged to wake up every morning with renewed faith in His provision.

Jesus declares victory over the wilderness as He clothes us in His righteousness. We learn to combat Satan with Scripture, and we see how the wilderness becomes sacred as Christ uses it for solitude. After reading this book, I am moved to trust our Shepherd, who leads and guides us through the wilderness. He sustains us with His grace, and He covers us with His love.

I received a media copy of Your Wilderness is Not a Waste and this is my honest review. @diveindigdeep

[Lianna Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapters on David and Elijah were the most helpful to me—perhaps because their wilderness moments are referenced less often in the sermons I’ve heard. Revisiting their stories and seeing God’s patience, help, and gentleness on display again was genuinely comforting.

I will say, I missed having a chapter on Hosea. Surely the book could have stretched just a little longer to include such a meaningful and pertinent text!

Overall, I’m giving this book three stars because, for me, it felt quite basic. Still, I imagine others will find even greater encouragement here. It is thoroughly biblical and written with a real sense of genuineness. Well done.

[Amber Ginter Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste by Dustin Crowe! This book came at exactly the right time for me and has been exactly what I needed in this season of my life. Dustin’s writing is thoughtful, easy to read, and really engaging. He has a way of making deep truths feel personal and approachable.

This book has helped me understand how God can use our struggles and seasons of suffering for growth and purpose. I found myself reflecting on my journey and feeling encouraged that nothing is wasted in His hands.

Highly recommend this one if you’re navigating a tough season or just want a fresh perspective on walking through life’s challenges with faith.

[Tim Warke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really should be a must read for any Christian who has found themselves at times wondering what God is doing, where they are, what has gone wrong in their lives... so basically like EVERY Christian ever.

Wonderfully relevant, thoroughly Biblically based as the author takes us on a whistlestop overview tour of Biblical history as seen through the wilderness. Very encouraging, heartening and challenging. This one will stay with me for a while.

[Ruth Potinu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the author's perspective that, "what we need most in the wilderness isn't escape from our problems but the experience of His presence. Such a needed reminder.