Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. He did not eat anything during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.
The experience of Jesus in the wilderness confronts us with a deep question: how is it possible that God, who knows our weaknesses, leads His Son into such a harsh test? In this passage, divine guidance is not a coincidence but a sovereign instruction to reveal His perfect obedience and His trust in the Father. Just as Adam and Eve faced temptation in the garden around food, a similar dynamic unfolds here: the enemy attacks in what is necessary for survival, and suffering seems to create a gap between God and the human being. Yet the radical difference is that Jesus responds in obedience and dependence, showing that faithfulness to God does not depend on our circumstances, but on the presence of the Spirit who strengthens us.
The story of Samson, mentioned in your notes, adds a voice of warning and hope: his captive gaze toward the Philistine does not destroy God's plan to defeat His enemies. This invites us to remember that even when temptation or trials seem strong, God's sovereignty remains intact and can work for His glory and our well-being when we submit to His will. In our daily life, we can learn not to assume that difficulty is a sign of abandonment, but an opportunity to walk in faith, seeking to be filled with the Spirit, trusting in divine grace and in the promise that God works all things for good. May this desert not be a cause of defeat, but a school of dependence, where human weakness becomes a channel of God's strength. Motivate yourself to persevere in the Lord's trust, knowing that He is with you in every test and that His plan is greater than our fears.