Prone to Wander: A Lenten Journey with Women in the Wilderness
Ebook
God meets us in the wilderness.
Though most of us have never wandered a literal desert for forty years, we have all spent some time wandering in a wilderness of one kind or another. So, too, have many women across the pages of the Bible. In their stories of doubt and questioning, of dryness and distance, we can find guideposts for the inevitable wilderness periods in our own lives. As we enter into the wilderness season of the church year, this Lenten devotional by Joanna Harader explores the stories of thirty biblical women—from Eve to Mary Magdalene—who had their own such experiences. For some, the women inhabited a literal wilderness. For others, their wilderness was metaphorical. All were drawn closer to God, who does not leave us to wander alone.
Embark on a Lenten journey with these women in the wilderness through daily reflections, prayer practices, and questions, as well as Sunday blessings accompanied by beautiful hand-cut paper artwork by Michelle Burkholder. From the author of Expecting Emmanuel, Prone to Wander provides resources for using the book in group and worship settings.
As you consider these women who inhabited a swath of wilderness spaces, draw closer to the God who met them—and meets you—there.
An Invitation from the Author
Suggestions for Using This Devotional
A Note from the Artist
Ash Wednesday: Welcome to the Wilderness (Exodus 13:17–22)
Week 1: Eve Who Mothers All
Thursday: Eve becomes (Genesis 2:15–25)
Friday: Eve decides (Genesis 3:1–7)
Saturday: Eve cast out (Genesis 3:8–24)
Blessing for the First Sunday of Lent
Week 2: Hagar Who Names God
Monday: Hagar enslaved (Genesis 16:1–6)
Tuesday: Hagar names God (Genesis 16:7–16)
Wednesday: Hagar cast out (Genesis 21:8–13)
Thursday: Hagar encounters God (Genesis 21:14–21)
Friday: Hagar endures (Genesis 25:12–18)
Saturday: Hagar misunderstood? (Galatians 4:21–31)
Blessing for the Second Sunday of Lent
Week 3: Women Who Save Moses
Monday: Shiphrah and Puah save lives (Exodus 1:8–21)
Tuesday: Jochebed saves Moses (Exodus 1:22–2:10)
Wednesday: Pharaoh’s daughter saves Moses (Acts 7:17–22)
Thursday: Zipporah saves Moses (Exodus 4:24–26)
Friday: Miriam sings (Exodus 14:21–30; 15:20–21)
Saturday: Miriam challenges Moses (Numbers 12:1–16)
Blessing for the Third Sunday of Lent
Week 4: Women Who Claim Power
Monday: The daughters of Zelophehad demand justice (Numbers 27:1–11)
Tuesday: Deborah leads the people (Judges 4:1–16)
Wednesday: Jael kills Sisera (Judges 4:17–22; 5:24–27)
Thursday: Vashti refuses the king (Esther 1:5–22)
Friday: Esther guides her people (Esther 4)
Saturday: Esther saves her people (Esther 5, 7)
Blessing for the Fourth Sunday of Lent
Week 5: Women Who Love
Fourth Monday: Lot’s wife loves her home (Genesis 19:1–26; Luke 17:28–33)
Tuesday: The widow of Zarephath loves a stranger (1 Kings 17:1–16)
Wednesday: The widow of Zarephath loves her son (1 Kings 17:17–24)
Thursday: A woman loves her beloved (Song of Solomon 2:1–17)
Friday: A woman loves love (Song of Solomon 8:1–7)
Saturday: Exiled women love their homeland (Jeremiah 31:10–17)
Blessing for the Fifth Sunday of Lent
Week 6: Women Who Encounter Jesus
Fifth Monday: A Samaritan woman talks to Jesus (John 4:1–26)
Tuesday: A Samaritan woman tells her community about Jesus (John 4:27–42)
Wednesday: A woman receives grace (John 8:1–11)
Thursday: A woman seeks healing (Mark 5:21–34)
Friday: Joanna and Susanna support Jesus (Luke 8:1–3)
Saturday: A Syrophoenician woman challenges Jesus (Matthew 15:21–28)
Blessing for Palm Sunday
Week 7: Women Who Tend to Jesus’ Death
Holy Monday: Mary anoints Jesus (John 12:1–8)
Holy Tuesday: Female servants question Peter (Matthew 26:69–75)
Holy Wednesday: Pilate’s wife warns her husband (Matthew 27:15–26)
Holy Thursday: Women weep for Jesus (Luke 23:26–31)
Good Friday: Mary mourns her son (John 19:25–27)
Holy Saturday: Women bear witness to Jesus’ death (Luke 23:44–56)
A Blessing for Easter Sunday
Easter Season: Women Who Proclaim Jesus’ Resurrection
Monday: Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome in Mark (Mark 16:1–8)
Tuesday: Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” in Matthew (Matthew 28:1–10)
Wednesday: Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, Joanna, and “the other women” in Luke (Luke 24:1–12)
Thursday: Mary Magdalene in John (John 20:1–10)
Friday: Mary Magdalene bears witness (John 20:11–18)
Saturday: Women find new life in the wilderness
Blessing for the Second Sunday of Easter
Guides for Group Use
Worship Guide
Small Group/Sunday School Guide
Retreat Guide
“To read this book is to learn from women in the Bible who’ve experienced the presence of God. Joanna Harader extends to us their companionship during our journey through Lent—to open ourselves to their instruction, their faith, as we wander through the wilderness of this world. With them we await the God who provides—the One who nurtures the gift of hope amid abandonment, who promises life despite our violence. These pages will renew your capacity to recognize the signs and wonders of God’s provision, sometimes as close as the hand of a friend or the generosity of a stranger.”
“Joanna Harader invites us on a rich and thoughtful sojourn through Lent alongside women who braved the wilderness but also reached out to the vulnerable, stood up to the powerful, listened to their love and desire, followed Jesus to his death, and then proclaimed his resurrection. Along the way, we encounter such powerful images, soul-stirring words, and excellent questions—this book will deepen Lent for all its readers!”
“In Prone to Wander, Joanna Harader invites us to journey in and through the wilderness of Lent, introducing us to the women of the Bible as we go. Through familiar and not-so-familiar stories, we ponder themes of power and authority, love and grace, faithfulness and salvation. With her gentle encouragement and probing questions, Harader proves to be a wise and steady companion along the way.”
“Like Mary at Jesus’ feet, I found myself in a state of teary-eyed, peaceful reverence while reading this devotional. Prone to Wander feels like a refreshing journey and a warm meal all at the same time. In honoring the stories of often-overlooked women in Scripture, Joanna Harader helps us listen closely to God and reminds us that our story, too, matters to God. You don’t need to polish yourself up for this kind of Bible study. Show up as you are and find gentle, true nourishment.”
- Title: Prone to Wander: A Lenten Journey with Women in the Wilderness
- Authors: Joanna Harader, Michelle Burkholder
- Publisher: Herald Press
- Print Publication Date: 2025
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781513814827, 9781513814810, 1513814818, 1513814826
- Resource ID: LLS:9781513814827
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-12-06T02:54:13Z
Rev. Joanna Harader is the author of Expecting Emmanuel and frequently posts words for worship on her blog, Spacious Faith. Her liturgies have been published in the Voices Together hymnal and are used in churches of various denominations. She has written for publications such as Leader magazine, ShineSunday School curriculum, and Christian Century. Joanna serves as pastor of Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, Kansas.
Michelle Burkholder serves as associate pastor of Hyattsville (MD) Mennonite Church and is a practicing visual artist. One of Michelle’s paper cutout pieces, Loaves and Fishes, can be found in the Voices Together hymnal. After studying art and theater at Eastern Mennonite University, Michelle went on to study the intersections of theology and the arts at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. The connections between art, faith, and spirituality fill Michelle with wonder, curiosity, and joy.