In Episode 28 of Unseen but Not Untold: Overcoming Covert Narcissistic Abuse, Dr. Christine C. Zacharia, MD, integrative covert narcissistic abuse recovery expert and board certified endocrinologist, addresses a struggle many survivors face while pursuing their God-given purpose: the uncertainty that comes when results are not immediately visible.
She acknowledges the questions that often arise during seasons of waiting:
"Some of you are navigating your God-given purpose and wondering, 'When am I going to see results?' 'Will this even come to fruition after all?' 'Am I imagining God wanted me to do this?'"
These questions are not signs of weak faith. Rather, they are common concerns that emerge when believers find themselves in the wilderness season of their divine purpose.
Throughout the Bible, God frequently used wilderness seasons as places of preparation. Before entering their promised assignments, God's chosen ones experienced periods of waiting, testing and spiritual growth.
"God has a plan even if you can't see it yet. That of course, is by divine design. He is using this time to prepare you for what He has in store for your divine purpose."
This message is echoed in Isaiah 55:8-9:
"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,'declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'"
Dr. Zacharia reminds listeners that God is leading the way with respect to their divine purpose.
"Just as a sheep doesn't lead the shepherd, He doesn't expect you to lead the way with the purpose He has instilled in you."
"He wants you to go day by day, hour by hour, minute with Him—understanding that He not only has your back, but what He has planned for your purpose is far greater than you can even imagine."
The Wilderness Is God's Training Ground
Dr. Zacharia reviews how the wilderness season is uncomfortable. Throughout Scripture it is often where God performs some of His deepest work. It is in these places of uncertainty that faith is strengthened, character is refined and dependence upon God becomes essential rather than optional.
"Nothing that happens to you is outside of His plan."
This truth can provide tremendous reassurance when circumstances seem confusing or overwhelming. While survivors may not always understand why certain challenges arise, Scripture consistently teaches that God remains in control.
As Dr. Zacharia explains:
"In fact, He allows Satan to challenge your faith and your obedience in this time to refine you and ensure you are ready for what is ahead. Nothing Satan does is without permission because no one is greater than God."
The story of Job provides a powerful example of this reality. Satan could not act without God's permission and even in the midst of intense suffering, God's purpose ultimately prevailed. What the enemy intended for destruction, God used for refinement and restoration.
Dr. Zacharia offers a fresh perspective on this for God's chosen ones listening.
"This is important to remember. The greater your purpose is, the more challenging the wilderness season will be for you."
While the wilderness may feel like a setback at first, it is preparation for greater responsibility. God uses adversity to develop perseverance, wisdom, humility and spiritual maturity—qualities necessary for fulfilling the assignments He entrusts to His chosen ones.
"Even Jesus, both divine and human, was subjected to Satan's testing in His wilderness season before fully stepping into His ministry after His baptism."
Following forty days of fasting and testing, Jesus emerged from the wilderness and began His public ministry. His experience demonstrates that seasons of testing are not signs of God's absence but can be part of His preparation process.
"God uses these seasons to draw us closer to Him and teach us to depend completely on His guidance."
Dependence upon God is one of the wilderness's greatest gifts. When familiar sources of comfort, certainty and control are removed, believers are able to hear God's voice most clearly and follow His direction more faithfully.
"For He is the one directing our purpose, not us. He knows better than we do how to transform the lives of the people around us."
Ultimately, trusting God extends beyond the wilderness itself.
"Independent of the wilderness season, trusting God means knowing that He is directing every step, even when you cannot see the path ahead. It means believing that He will fulfill every promise He has spoken over your life, even when the future remains unclear."
Faith is not the absence of uncertainty. Faith is the decision to trust God's direction even when the destination remains unseen.
Learning to Trust God's Timing
One of the most powerful aspects of faith is learning to trust God when the outcomes we expect do not arrive according to our timeline. Dr. Zacharia shares that this has been one of the greatest lessons of her own wilderness experience.
"There have been numerous times on my journey where I questioned God's plan—especially when things didn't happen in the timeframe I expected."
Like many believers pursuing a God-given calling, she found herself measuring progress through visible results and wondering whether she was moving in the right direction. Yet throughout the journey, God continued to redirect her focus away from numbers and toward the people being reached.
"But God has reminded me throughout this journey that whoever is meant to see our message will see it. It's not about volume of people; it's about who is being impacted by the message."
This perspective challenges the way many people define success. In a culture focused on metrics, followers, views and engagement, God's priorities look very different. Dr. Zacharia recounts a visual illustration that reinforced this lesson.
"Interestingly, I came across a video on TikTok the other day that illustrated this point from a different angle. A woman shared a visual depiction of a crowd around her—it started with about 10 people, then grew to 200, 300 and eventually a few thousand. It confirmed something God had been teaching me all along."
The message resonated deeply with Dr. Zacharia.
"When you stop looking at the numbers and instead think about the actual people those numbers represent, it is truly astonishing."
For Dr. Zacharia, this realization became connected to an even larger lesson.
"This ties into one of the central lessons He has been teaching me to understand: divine timing. God does not operate on human time; He operates on His time, which is not limited by human constraints."
"For many of us, this is a tough pill to swallow, especially when we've been asked to leave full-time jobs or careers behind to pursue a purpose we cannot yet fully see."
Dr. Zacharia acknowledges the tension many believers experience when they step out in faith but cannot immediately see the fruit of their obedience.
"Naturally, this creates anxiety and worry because we want to see tangible results from the effort we put in."
During one particularly difficult period of waiting, she found herself seeking reassurance from God.
"There have been times when I have asked God to give me signs that He is still there and that He is still listening."
She recalls a specific moment during the depths of her wilderness experience.
"I remember, in the thick of the wilderness season, looking out the window asking Him to give me a specific sign if He was listening. I told Him, 'I have been obedient. I have been faithful. Why am I not seeing the results of what I have been asked to do?'"
What happened next became a lesson not only about faith, but about trusting God on His terms rather than her own.
"One of the key things you learn as you read the Bible is never to test God. Not only did He not give me the sign I asked for but He also had me read this Bible passage from Matthew 4:7 later that evening: 'You must not test the Lord your God.'"
Then, after hours of waiting and reflection, God answered in a way she did not expect.
"Shortly after that, I looked out the window and saw the sign I had asked for eight hours later in the middle of the night."
Sometimes God's greatest answers come not when we demand them, but when we surrender our need to control how and when they arrive.
Surrendering Control and Learning to Trust God
As Dr. Zacharia continued to navigate her wilderness experience, she came to understand that God was not simply preparing her for a purpose—He was also transforming her from the inside out.
"The wilderness season is a period of preparation. God develops within you what is needed to handle what He gives you. Without that preparation, the purpose He has for you could not only falter, but you could also come apart in the process."
Preparation is one of God's greatest acts of love. While many people focus on the promise, God often focuses on the person who will carry it. Before He entrusts someone with greater responsibility, influence or impact, He develops the character, faith and endurance necessary to sustain it.
"Just as military personnel go through a boot camp of their own, God's chosen ones must go through one as well to ensure they are fully equipped to handle what is expected of them on this journey."
One of the most significant lessons God taught Dr. Zacharia during this time involved surrender and breaking the cycle of hyper-independence.
"Understanding this concept of divine timing also forced me to break the cycle of hyper-independence that I had operated in for the vast majority of my life."
"The instability and uncertainty of day-to-day life, without the ability to plan, was one of the most difficult things I had to learn to surrender on this journey."
As God began revealing the deeper roots of her struggle, He led her through a season of reflection and journaling.
"God had me journal about why I was hesitant to place my full faith in Him and in His plan to provide for me."
What emerged was a painful but important realization.
"My desire to remain in control and carefully plan every step was deeply rooted in the trust issues and betrayal wounds of my past—wounds inflicted by the people I cared about and trusted most."
Dr. Zacharia explains that betrayal had shaped many of her responses throughout life.
"Whether it was a betrayal of trust, a betrayal of confidence, betrayal of emotional or physical safety—betrayal was something I avoided at all costs."
As a result, self-reliance became a form of protection.
"The more I could anticipate and try to avoid it, I did so. The times I asked people for help were few and far between because those were the moments when I knew I could not do something on my own."
She acknowledges that many individuals recovering from covert narcissistic abuse may find this pattern familiar.
"I know those of you listening can relate to this because covert narcissistic abuse goes hand in hand with betrayal."
Yet God was teaching her a critical distinction: trusting Him is fundamentally different from trusting a covert narcissist.
"But with God, He never breaks a promise, even if He does not fulfill it when we want Him to. He is perfect and not subject to human constraints or limitations. He will deliver in His perfect and divine timing."
As her trust in God's character grew, her grip on control gradually loosened.
"Only after that did I loosen the grip on the reins of my life I was trying to hold onto so tightly."
Like many aspects of spiritual growth, surrender was not instantaneous.
"This was not an overnight process, but one God patiently awaited for me to do."
God's patience became part of the lesson itself. Rather than forcing change, He gently led her toward deeper trust over time.
"That's the thing: you are not handing the reins of control over to a covert narcissist; you are handing them over to God, who always has your best interests at heart."
For those carrying wounds from betrayal, disappointment or broken trust, this distinction matters deeply. God does not manipulate, deceive, abandon or exploit.
"When you remind yourself of that reality and truly embrace it at the level of your soul, the anxiety, worry and uncertainty that accompany divine timing finally begins to ease up."
Learning to Discern God's Voice from the Enemy's
"And when I finally learned these lessons, God brought me to a new set of lessons. Including distinguishing between His voice and Satan's voice."
Spiritual discernment is an essential part of the wilderness season. As believers grow closer to God, they must also learn to recognize the subtle ways deception can appear.
"Satan is the great deceiver and knows exactly where to pinpoint your weaknesses."
Scripture warns believers that deception is one of the enemy's primary tactics. Often, his lies are not obvious. Instead, they are mixed with partial truths, distortions and appeals to our deepest fears and vulnerabilities.
"He will quote Scripture, but he will twist it, just as he did with Jesus in the desert."
This is precisely what occurred during Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. Satan quoted Scripture while attempting to manipulate Jesus into acting outside of God's will. Yet Jesus responded by correctly applying God's Word and refusing to be deceived.
"One advantage we have as survivors of covert narcissistic abuse is that Satan sounds a lot like a covert narcissist."
She explains that deception often presents itself in ways that feel familiar.
"He will also say things he knows you want to hear because they placate your anxieties and worries in the areas where you feel most vulnerable."
This is why biblical literacy becomes so important during seasons of preparation.
"That is why part of the wilderness season's preparation involves not only becoming more reliant on God but also developing a deeper understanding of Scripture."
For Dr. Zacharia, this became one of the most significant areas of growth during the past year.
"In the past year, I have learned more about Scripture than I had in my entire life."
That deeper understanding proved invaluable when she encountered a spiritual test of her own.
"This understanding helped me navigate a recent test I was put through."
Because she had become grounded in biblical truth, she was able to identify teachings that contradicted foundational Christian doctrine.
"Thankfully, I passed it because I recognized that what Satan was saying twisted core, undeniable truths about Jesus—including His divinity and the reason He incarnated on earth: to die for the forgiveness of sins."
In this same breath, Dr. Zacharia offers an important caution for listeners.
"Be wary of those who deny this truth, even if they identify as Christian or are seemingly good people."
She emphasizes that sincerity and kindness alone do not guarantee sound doctrine.
"Even if someone is a good person, it doesn't mean they are not falling victim to Satan's deception."
The wilderness season, therefore, is not only about learning to trust God. It is also about learning to recognize truth from error.
Even when she believed she was fully prepared, God continued refining Dr. Zacharia's path in her wilderness season, including triggers she didn't even realize existed.
"Just when I thought I was ready, God would gently remind me, 'Not yet.'"
This process was not about perfection but preparation.
"That's not to say that even when your wilderness season is over you will not be triggered. It is part of the human condition, but there are some triggers that God wants you to learn from in private before you step out on a more public scale."
God will address certain wounds privately before placing His people in positions that are public facing.
"Because, as I mentioned before, depending on the nature of your purpose and the weight it carries, the opposition you will face because of what God has asked you to do will be tremendous and God needs to make sure you can handle the weight of it."
Preparation is not punishment. It is protection.
"We are being called to be a light in a world where there is increasing darkness. Where light is, darkness cannot coexist. Darkness will not go down without a fight."
The wilderness prepares believers for that reality. It teaches them to recognize God's voice, stand firmly on Scripture and remain faithful when opposition inevitably comes.
The Power of Divine Timing: Evolution of Dr. Zacharia's Podcast
One of the clearest lessons Dr. Zacharia gained from her wilderness experience is that God's timing is not arbitrary. Looking back, she can now see that many of the delays she once questioned were actually acts of divine preparation.
"Looking back now, I can honestly say that if God had given me what I was asking for when I wanted it, my life purpose would have completely fallen apart. I simply was not ready to handle the full weight and responsibility of what He was preparing me for."
This realization is often only possible in hindsight. During the waiting season, it is easy to believe that God's delays are obstacles. As Dr. Zacharia reflects on the past year, she sees profound transformation in her own life.
"There are lessons I have learned in the past year that have truly changed who I am as a person and what I prioritize now compared to even a year ago."
More importantly, the wilderness drew her into a deeper relationship with God.
"This is the closest I have ever been to God - I start and end the day with Him. I connect with Him throughout the day as well when I am struggling or need some reassurance."
One of the greatest purposes of the wilderness is not simply preparing believers for a calling—it is drawing them closer to the One who gave them that calling in the first place.
For Dr. Zacharia, even the development of her podcast became evidence of God's divine timing.
"Even the way this podcast evolved is a testament to the power of His divine timing and the refinement of this wilderness season."
"What I originally envisioned for this podcast about nine months ago is very different from what it ultimately became."
Initially, she believed the podcast would focus primarily on interviewing fellow survivors on their experience. Despite her efforts to move forward, obstacles repeatedly appeared.
"Every time I tried to start recording in August and September, something outside of my control would happen and delay the process. This didn't happen just once—it happened multiple times."
Eventually, she stopped trying to force the situation.
"Eventually, I stopped trying to force it and postponed it altogether until I finally started recording it 3 months after that."
Only later did she understand what God had been doing during that waiting period. God's vision was larger than her own.
"He knew exactly what would best serve covert narcissistic abuse survivors—ones like yourself. People He was calling back to Him for healing, restoration and the fulfillment of their God-given purpose."
The delay was not wasted time. It was preparation.
"Had this podcast launched even two months earlier than it did, it would have looked completely different."
This experience became a powerful illustration of God's sovereignty.
"That is the power of divine timing and the power of God's work in me during this wilderness season."
Dr. Zacharia reminds listeners the same principle applies to those currently in their wilderness season.
"The same applies to you listening. If you are not seeing the results you want right now, it is not because you are failing at your life purpose or that God has suddenly changed His mind about you."
"He has not, and God does not make mistakes. He called you to complete something only you can do."
"What often feels like a delay is actually God's preparation. What feels like a closed door is often His protection. And what feels like a setback may simply be God ensuring that when the opportunity arrives, you are fully prepared to walk through it."
Sometimes repeated obstacles may not be signs to push harder but invitations to trust God more deeply.
"When unexpected obstacles keep appearing, consider the possibility that God has something even greater in mind than what you originally envisioned."
Dr. Zacharia reminds readers that purpose carries responsibility.
"Your purpose carries significant weight and responsibility. Because of that, God must not only prepare you for it but also guide you in it one step at a time."
She points back to her own experience as evidence of how much can change during a relatively short period of preparation.
"If three months was enough to completely change the trajectory of a podcast for me, imagine what six months—or a year, or however long He knows it will take—for your life purpose to be ready for its full harvest."
The responsibility of believers is not to control the journey but to remain obedient to the One directing it.
"We often think that once God reveals the destination, it is our responsibility to figure out every detail of how to get there. But that is not how He works."
Throughout Scripture, God consistently leads His people step by step rather than revealing the entire roadmap at once.
As Dr. Zacharia explains:
"God leads through His timing. He leads through open and closed doors. He leads through seasons of waiting, seasons of growth and even through unexpected detours that do not make sense in the moment."
God Is Concerned With What He Is Building in You
As Dr. Zacharia reflects on the wilderness season, she emphasizes that God's process of preparation is not unique to a select few. Throughout Scripture, God consistently develops and refines those He calls before entrusting them with greater responsibility.
In 1 Chronicles 17, David desired to build a temple for God. On the surface, it seemed like a noble and honorable plan. Yet God had a different vision. Through the prophet Nathan, God reminded David that He had been guiding his life all along:
"I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes." (1 Chronicles 17:7-8)
Later, God revealed that David would not be the one to build the temple. It would be his son, Solomon.
"I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever." (1 Chronicles 17:11-12)
Reflecting on this passage, Dr. Zacharia explains the following to listeners:
"On the surface, David's plan seemed like a great and honorable idea. But God interrupts David's plan and essentially says, 'You will not be the one to build it. I am doing something greater than what you can see right now.'"
David's desire was not wrong. His timing and understanding were simply limited by human perspective. What David could not fully see was that God's covenant with him pointed toward something far greater than the construction of a physical temple.
"The fulfillment of that promise ultimately pointed forward to something far greater than David could have imagined. From his lineage, Jesus, the Son of God, emerged, fulfilling God's promise of an everlasting kingdom and redemption for all."
This is one of the clearest examples in Scripture of divine timing and divine planning working together.
"This is what divine planning and divine timing looks like. We come to God with what we think we are supposed to build and God responds by revealing what He is actually building through us—and sometimes beyond us."
This principle often becomes one of the greatest challenges of the wilderness season.
"And this is where many people struggle in their wilderness season. You have the right heart, the right intention and the right calling."
The difficulty comes when God's response is different from what was expected.
"But God's 'no' or 'not yet' is not rejection, it is redirection into alignment."
Many believers mistakenly interpret delay as disapproval. Yet Scripture repeatedly demonstrates that God's delays often serve a protective purpose.
"What feels like delay is God protecting the integrity of what He has promised."
Without proper preparation, even a God-given purpose can become difficult to sustain.
"Because if your purpose is built in the wrong timing, with the wrong preparation or from the wrong place spiritually, it cannot sustain what it is meant to carry."
This brings Dr. Zacharia to one of the most important lessons of the entire wilderness experience.
"And just like with David, here is a key truth to understand: God is not just interested in what you are building for Him—He is focused on what He is building in you."
She repeats the statement for emphasis:
"Let that sink in for a moment. God is not just interested in what you are building for Him—He is focused on what He is building in you."
Dr. Zacharia offers this reminder:
"In the wilderness season, it is easy to become so focused on the destination that we overlook the importance of the journey."
The journey itself is often where God accomplishes His greatest work. God understands something that His chosen ones sometimes forget along the way: the person carrying the purpose must be prepared before the purpose can fully flourish.
The Parable of the Sower and the Hidden Work of Growth
The Parable of the Sower immediately comes to mind from Matthew 13:3-23 when it comes to understanding the wilderness season. Dr. Zacharia explains that Jesus’ teaching speaks directly to the tension many survivors feel when they know their purpose but cannot yet see it unfolding as expected.
"The Parable of the Sower speaks directly to what it feels like to be in a wilderness season where you know your purpose, but don't yet see it unfolding the way you expected."
She highlights the contrast Jesus draws between different types of soil, focusing especially on rocky soil and good soil.
"The key contrast for this kind of season in your life can be found in the analogy between the rocky soil and good soil."
The rocky soil represents what appears to be early success but lacks depth.
"The rocky soil represents a beginning that looks promising—the seed springs up quickly—but because it has no deep roots, it cannot endure pressure, heat or difficulty, and it withers."
In contrast, good soil represents a slower and less visible process.
"In contrast, the good soil represents a slower, less visible process where the seed takes time to go deep before anything significant is seen above the surface and only then does it produce lasting fruit."
From this perspective, the wilderness is not evidence of absence, but evidence of unseen formation. What feels like delay is actually deeper preparation.
"The 'delay' is not a sign that something is wrong, but that something deeper is being formed that will determine whether what's been planted can actually survive pressure later on."
Jesus’ teaching, she notes, is not merely about initial response to God’s Word, but about sustainability.
"Jesus’ point in this parable is not just about the initial reception of God's word, but about what kind of internal environment can sustain long-term fruitfulness."
This leads to an important distinction in how growth is understood.
"Some growth is immediate but fragile, while other growth is hidden at first but becomes stable and multiplies over time."
In this way, divine timing is not simply about when things appear, but about what has been formed within.
"Divine timing in this sense is less about everything unfolding on a predictable schedule and more about whether the inner life is ready to carry what the outer life will eventually produce."
Dr. Zacharia emphasizes that the wilderness itself is not wasted time.
"The wilderness, then, is not wasted space—it is where depth is formed and determines whether purpose lasts or fades when pressure comes."
This reframes how believers interpret delay and silence.
"So right now, if it feels as if nothing is happening or you do not see evidence of the fruit of your purpose unfolding when you want it to, it is not that God has overlooked you or changed direction, but that He is working on what cannot be seen yet—what makes future growth sustainable."
This is why, she explains, faith is emphasized so strongly in wilderness seasons.
"This is why faith is emphasized so strongly in seasons like this. If everything is judged only by what is visible on the surface, it often looks like nothing is happening at all."
Yet Scripture consistently shows a different pattern—God doing His deepest work in hidden places before it becomes visible.
"Throughout the Bible, you see that God's work with His chosen ones begins in hidden environments before it comes to the surface."
The invitation, then, is steadfast trust.
"So the invitation in that tension is to stay steady even when external evidence has not caught up yet, trusting that depth is being formed in a way that will eventually support what is meant to last."
Anchoring Identity and Faith in God’s Unchanging Character
As Dr. Zacharia continues reflecting on the wilderness season, she turns to Paul to illustrate what it looks like to trust God when circumstances remain unresolved.
“In 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul holds his faith strong even as he is in prison. ‘That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.’”
Paul’s confidence, she notes, was not rooted in his circumstances improving.
“Paul’s confidence in God was not built on the expectation of being rescued from prison or delivered out of suffering. His faith was not dependent on a specific earthly outcome. Instead, it was anchored in something far greater—God’s eternal faithfulness.”
What makes Paul’s example so striking is the context in which it was written.
“What makes Paul’s posture so powerful is that he is writing from a place where comfort was not guaranteed, release was not certain and in fact his death was near.”
Yet even in that reality, his posture remained steady.
“Yet instead of fear, we see assurance. Instead of panic, we see peace. Instead of doubt, we see unwavering confidence in God’s character.”
Dr. Zacharia emphasizes that this same posture is essential in wilderness seasons.
“That same perspective is deeply relevant in wilderness seasons. There are moments when we pray for immediate change, for doors to open, for situations to resolve quickly. But sometimes when God does not change the circumstance—He is strengthening the person within it.”
Paul’s life demonstrates a foundational truth about faith and obedience.
“Paul’s life reminds us that obedience does not always lead to comfort and faith does not always result in escape. But it always leads to God. And ultimately, that is the greatest outcome of all.”
When trust is rooted in God rather than outcomes, stability follows even in uncertainty.
“When your trust is rooted in God rather than outcomes, you can endure uncertainty without losing peace. You can walk through difficulty without losing hope. And you can remain steady even when the path ahead is unclear, because your confidence is not in what happens to you, but in the One who holds you.”
This is why, Dr. Zacharia explains, survivors must reground themselves in their identity in Christ.
“This reminds you of the why of your purpose and helps you stop focusing on the what. God determines the what, you need to keep track of the why.”
Even she acknowledges the struggle to maintain that perspective consistently.
“I have been guilty of this, especially early in my wilderness season when I was still trying to do things in my own understanding and trying to do more when I wasn’t seeing the results when I wanted to.”
However, remembering one's identity in Christ reframes everything.
“When you remember that your worth and identity has already been established by Christ, everything else falls into place.”
She points to Revelation 1:6 as a reminder of this identity:
“He has made us a kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”
“This verse reminds us that Jesus has made us ‘a kingdom and priests for God.’ This is not just symbolic language—it is identity-shifting truth.”
To be part of God’s kingdom is to live under His authority and care.
“To be part of a kingdom means you are under divine authority and divine covering. You are not wandering through life without direction or oversight. You belong to God who governs with purpose, intention and care.”
This identity also brings security.
“This verse not only speaks to your identity and purpose, but also to your security. Your calling is never separated from God’s companionship in it.”
Even in seasons of waiting or pruning, God remains present. Nothing about the process changes God’s commitment. The wilderness, Dr. Zacharia explains, strips away distractions and misplaced dependencies.
“The wilderness season is where everything familiar is stripped away, so that what remains is trust—not in systems, not in people, not even in your own strength—but in God Himself.”
This stripping, though difficult, is purposeful.
“Ultimately it is a testimony of God’s unwavering support and His ability to fulfill what He has spoken over your life.”
“God does not abandon what He starts. If He spoke it, He will sustain it. If He promised it, He will carry it. If He called you into it, He will also walk you through it.”
And ultimately, this becomes the foundation of peace.
“And that is the foundation of peace: not that everything is clear, but that God is consistent.”
Anchoring Truth in the Wilderness: The Parrot and the Tibetan Snow Lion
In this episode, Dr. Zacharia reflects on two seemingly unrelated symbols—the parrot and the Tibetan snow lion.
"In this episode, God wanted me to discuss two seemingly unrelated symbols but it ties into this discussion very well. The parrot and the Tibetan snow lion. Yes, you heard that correctly, Tibetan snow lion."
The Parrot: Learning to Echo God’s Truth
Dr. Zacharia begins with the parrot as a familiar image to illustrate how believers are sustained in seasons of uncertainty.
"In the wilderness season, where you feel unclear, unfocused and even waver in your confidence in God's plan and His ability to provide for you, the image of the parrot becomes pertinent."
A parrot repeats what it hears most consistently. In the same way, she explains, God's chosen ones are shaped by what they repeatedly echo internally.
"A parrot repeats what it hears most consistently. In the same way, one of the ways God anchors us in confusion is by helping us return—again and again—to what He has already spoken."
"When you feel distracted or uncertain, you begin to 'echo' God's truth back to yourself: What has God already said? What does His Word declare over me? What truth remains even when everything around me seems to suggest otherwise?"
Over time, this repetition leads to deeper formation and anchoring in God's truth.
"So instead of being led by fear or noise, you begin to repeat truth until it becomes a steady, and at times even persistent, voice within you."
"This is part of spiritual formation in the wilderness. God does not always give a brand-new word in every moment. Sometimes He strengthens the words He has already spoken so they become louder than everything else competing for your attention."
The Tibetan Snow Lion: Joyful Confidence in Challenging Environments
"The snow lion is a mythological representation of fearlessness, joy and unshakable spiritual strength."
In traditional symbolism, even its appearance carries meaning.
"The green or turquoise mane is especially significant. It symbolizes vitality, awakened energy and the clarity of mind that comes from spiritual realization."
The imagery points to a deeper inner reality.
"The snow lion is imagined as living in high, remote, snow-covered mountains—places that are pure, elevated and untouched. Because of this, it is a symbol of spiritual altitude: a state of mind that is not easily influenced by fear, distraction or external turbulence."
Unlike strength defined by force, the snow lion represents joyful confidence.
"The snow lion is said to move with a playful confidence—described as joyful rather than aggressive."
Its symbolism, she explains, points to an inner transformation.
"In this way, the snow lion represents a state of being where fear has been transformed into courage, and struggle has been transformed into joyful presence."
This is not dependent on circumstances.
"It moves with a kind of confidence and steadiness that is not dependent on comfort, approval or ease of circumstance."
Dr. Zacharia uses the snow lion as a metaphor to describe what God is forming in His chosen ones during their wilderness season.
"Because of this, the snow lion is a powerful metaphor for the kind of inner stability God develops in the wilderness season: a rootedness that is not dependent on what you can see and a steadiness that is not easily swayed by external pressure."
God’s goal is internal transformation rather than external reassurance.
"God is molding you in this season of uncertainty—not to destabilize you, but to detach your confidence from unstable foundations."
"Instead, you are anchored in the truth of who He is forming you to be."
"The snow lion is a picture of spiritual maturity—not the absence of struggle, but the presence of stability within it."
This maturity is expressed as inward steadiness in the face of adversity and challenging circumstances.
"It is the ability to say: 'I may not understand everything happening around me, but I am not internally shaken by it.'"
"That is what divine support looks like in the wilderness: not always immediate relief, but sustained strength; not always clarity of timing, but clarity of identity."
What God is ultimately building, she concludes, is not only endurance, but a transformed posture of faith.
"Knowing that God has your back and is carrying you through not only this wilderness season but also your walk in the life purpose He has designated for you."
You Are Not Forgotten in the Wilderness
As Dr. Zacharia closes this episode, she offers a final reminder meant to anchor the listener in truth when circumstances feel uncertain.
"Your wilderness season does not mean God has stepped away—it is evidence that He is still actively forming, guiding, and holding you."
Even when clarity is absent and progress feels delayed, she emphasizes that God's presence has not changed.
"When things feel unclear, when timing feels delayed, and when the path ahead seems uncertain, it does not mean God is absent. He is working in ways you cannot yet fully see."
She explains that the purpose of difficulty is not punishment, but preparation.
"What He places in your hands requires a version of you that has been prepared to carry it."
In the wilderness, God is not only shaping outcomes—He is shaping identity.
"In this season, He is anchoring you in His truth that lives inside you. He is strengthening your posture so you can stand in what is true, even when everything around you feels unstable."