Grace in the Wilderness

I spent the weekend with a dear friend with whom I have walked through the wilderness, both hers and mine, many times.  We have grappled with struggles that broke us and nearly drowned us.  Over the many years that we have spent time together, beginning in our college apartment, we have heard from God through His Word and through each other.  And what He has spoken most clearly is this in Jeremiah 31:2: 

      The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness.  

This, of course, was directed to the people of Israel as Jeremiah was prophesying their restoration after God's judgment on them.  But we, too, have wildernesses and swords, famines and plagues.  We often live in the darkness, unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

But there is grace, always grace, in our wildernesses. My friend and I always find it in our times together.  For us, it has often been a comforting word from the Lord, like the promise that joy comes in the morning after a night of weeping (Psalm 30:5).  It has been one another's tears, and the joy of seeing God in the midst of our turmoil.  We remind each other that we are never outside of God's plans for us.  And while the wildernesses have abounded, the grace of God that we have found has abounded all the more.  

For God through Jeremiah goes on to say:  When Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away.  I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. (verses 2-3)  

My friend and I call these sorts of verses our "grace in the wilderness" verses.  Where have you found grace in the wildernesses of your life?