Have you ever found yourself in a place so dry, so silent, you questioned whether God was still with you? That’s the wilderness—the desolate place where everything familiar disappears, and all you’re left with is Him.

When I wrote Desolate Places, I had recently finished walking through one of those seasons myself. It was a time of deep personal and professional transition. Life didn’t look the way I had envisioned, and the road ahead felt anything but clear. But it was in those quiet, painful moments that God revealed some of His most powerful truths—truths that I believe every entrepreneur, business leader, and believer needs to hear when they find themselves in a dry and weary land.

If you’re in a difficult season right now—if business is slower than you expected, if the bills are piling up, or if your dreams feel more like burdens—this is for you. There’s purpose in the desert.

“The desert doesn’t kill your purpose—it reveals it.”
—Carl Willis, Desolate Places

Key Takeaways from Lessons from Desolate Places

• Wilderness seasons are not signs of abandonment but divine appointments—God often leads us into desolate places to refine, not reject us.

• God’s provision is revealed in obedience—He supplies what we need as we move forward in faith, not while we sit in fear.

• The desert strips away false identity—When comfort is removed, clarity and calling are often revealed.

• Silence isn’t absence—it’s preparation—In quiet seasons, God rebuilds your foundation and deepens your dependence on Him.

• Your struggle has purpose beyond you—The strength God builds in your dry place may become the survival guide for someone else’s journey.

• There’s a testimony forming in your trial—The desolate place might just be the birthplace of your greatest breakthrough.

1. Your Wilderness Is a Setup, Not a Setback

One of the greatest lies the enemy whispers in our wilderness seasons is this: God has left you.

But that’s just not true.

Over and over in Scripture, God leads His people into the wilderness—not to abandon them, but to refine them. Moses met God in a burning bush in the wilderness. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tested and prepared. The desolate place is often where the most sacred encounters happen.

In business, this might look like a downturn in revenue, a failed launch, or the unexpected loss of a major client. I’ve walked through those seasons myself. But I’ve also seen how God uses those very moments to prune what needs to go and deepen our dependence on Him.

Let me tell you from experience: your desolate place might be the very soil where your next breakthrough is planted.

2. The Hidden Provision That Awaits Obedience

When the children of Israel wandered in the desert, God didn’t give them a month’s supply of manna. He gave them just enough for each day.

That’s tough for us planners, isn’t it?

In my own journey, I’ve seen this truth play out again and again. During a difficult season in our marketing firm, I remember crying out to God about payroll. We had a shortfall, and nothing in the pipeline looked promising. That week, out of nowhere, a former client reached out with a project that covered the gap exactly. No more, no less.

We often want to see the whole path, but God invites us to trust Him one step at a time. His provision meets us in motion, not in pause.

3. Stripped So You Can Soar: Why Losing Comfort Brings Clarity

Sometimes the wilderness removes things we thought we couldn’t live without—only to show us that they were distractions all along.

In Desolate Places, I shared how God used a career and financial setback to strip away my false identities. I had to face the uncomfortable truth that I was chasing security more than purpose.

For the entrepreneur, the desolate place forces you to ask the hard questions:

• Why did I start this business?
• Who am I really serving?
• What legacy am I building?

If the work you’re doing isn’t aligned with your mission, the wilderness will make that painfully clear. But that’s not a curse—it’s a gift.

4. In the Quiet, God Rebuilds Your Foundation

We live in a world that celebrates hustle and noise. But growth often comes in the quiet.

It was in the silence of my desolate place that I heard God most clearly. Without the noise of performance and public opinion, I rediscovered my purpose. I remembered that I’m not just a marketer or a pastor—I’m a man called to live a Christ-centered life and mentor others into theirs.

In business, the quiet seasons can feel like failure. But they’re often where God reshapes your vision, retools your strategy, and revives your passion.

Don’t despise the quiet. Lean into it.

5. Your Wilderness Is Someone Else’s Lifeline

One of the reasons I wrote Desolate Places was because I knew I wasn’t the only one walking through the wilderness. What I didn’t know at the time was just how many people would reach out later, saying things like, “This is exactly what I needed to hear,” or “I thought I was alone.”

Your struggle is not in vain. In fact, the strength God develops in you here will become a lifeline for someone else.

That client who’s struggling. That friend who just lost everything. That employee looking for meaning in more than a paycheck—they need to see how you held onto faith when everything screamed fear.

Final Thoughts

Jesus often withdrew to desolate places to pray (Luke 5:16). If the Son of God needed the wilderness to connect deeply with the Father, why would we think we’re exempt?

So if you’re walking through a desolate place in business right now, take heart.

You are not alone. God is with you. And this season—yes, even this one—can become the most fruitful part of your journey.

You may not see it now, but one day you’ll look back and say, That was where I found my real strength.

Don’t just endure your wilderness. Embrace it. Engage it. Let God transform you through it.
Because your desolate place might just be the birthplace of your greatest testimony.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a “desolate place” in business?

A desolate place is a season where things feel dry, unfruitful, and uncertain. In business, this might look like declining revenue, client loss, personal burnout, or moments where your purpose feels unclear. These are often the seasons where God does His deepest refining work.

2. How do I know if God is with me in my struggles?

Scripture promises that God will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). The silence doesn’t mean absence. Many times, He uses the wilderness to draw us closer and speak to us in new ways. When you’re uncertain, lean into prayer, the Word, and trusted community.

3. Can spiritual lessons really apply to business challenges?

Absolutely. Business is simply a platform where your faith is lived out. God cares about your work, your finances, your leadership, and your influence. Every challenge in business can be a classroom where He strengthens your character and sharpens your calling.

4. What should I do when I feel stuck in a wilderness season?

Start by seeking God—not just for a way out, but for what He wants to do in you during this time. Reassess your mission, evaluate your alignment with God’s plan, and reach out for support. Sometimes a conversation or strategy session can provide clarity and encouragement.

5. How can I learn more about the lessons in Desolate Places?

You can order the book Desolate Places directly from Amazon to dive deeper into the stories and biblical insights shared there. It’s written to walk with you through seasons of trial, transition, and transformation.

🌱 Ready to turn your business struggle into a story of redemption?

👉 Schedule a 1-on-1 clarity call with Carl and take the first step toward breakthrough.
📚 Grab your copy of Desolate Places to go deeper.