The Driving School Wilderness: A Story of Two Tests (In the Wilderness by Dr. Muthoni Omukhango)

In the wilderness of life, we often face challenges that test our resolve, faith, and commitment to righteousness. For me, that wilderness was a driving school—a place where I encountered more than just road signs and traffic rules. It was a season of intense testing, not only of my driving skills but also of my principles and faith.

I remember the day vividly, the first of my two attempts at the driving test. The sun scorched the earth with relentless heat, the kind that makes you question why you ever left the comfort of your home. I stood there, along with over a hundred others, waiting for my turn, my heart pounding with a mix of eagerness and dread. The baby I was carrying was kicking so hard in my womb, not giving me a break I so much needed.

Little did I know that the real test was not of my driving ability but of my integrity.

As the hours dragged on, I finally reached the front of the line. The examiner looked me up and down, and then, with a nonchalant tone, he asked for a “little something” to ensure my success. I knew what he meant. Everyone around me knew what he meant. It was the unspoken rule of the road—oil the wheels, and you’ll glide through smoothly. But I refused. I was one of the three out of over a hundred who didn’t succumb to the pressure to bribe.

When I heard those dreaded words, “You’ve failed,” my heart sank. Not because I doubted my ability to drive, but because I had chosen the path of righteousness, and it seemed to lead nowhere. As I trudged home, tears of frustration and disappointment streamed down my face. “Why is righteousness so hard?” I asked God. The money I had set aside for lunch could have “oiled the wheels,” but I had chosen to keep my hands clean. Even the driving school contact questioned my decision, asking why I was so difficult.

At home, I poured out my heart to my husband and more so to God, expecting Him to comfort me with words of reassurance or maybe a change of plan. Instead, He told me to go back to the same testing centre. I was horrified. “God, are You serious?” I thought. It felt like adding insult to injury. Why not try a different centre where no one knew me? Why face the same testers who had labelled me difficult? But despite my reluctance, I obeyed.

A week later, I returned to the same centre. This time, though, something was different.

As I approached, I noticed a new announcement board: “You are entering a corruption-free zone.”

My heart skipped a beat. Could it be? I looked around and saw similar signs everywhere. It turned out that my second attempt coincided with an inspection day for the testing centre. All the big bosses were present, and the atmosphere was completely different.

When my turn came, I was quizzed by senior officers, not the same corrupt examiners from before. The test was thorough but fair, based solely on my knowledge of driving theory and practice.

In under an hour, I had passed the test and held my interim driving licence in my hand. It was a surreal moment—a victory not just on the road but in my spiritual journey as well.

Looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t quit. That wilderness season taught me invaluable lessons.

I learned that righteousness may not always lead to immediate rewards, but it is the only path that honours God. I learned that God fights for those who stand firm in their convictions, even when the odds seem stacked against them.

And most importantly, I learned that what seems like a delay or a setback in our eyes is often God’s way of setting the stage for a greater victory.

So, to anyone going through their own wilderness, whether in ministry, purpose, or any other area of life, I say this: Stay the course.

The temptation to quit will come, but remember, God is with you. He sees the bigger picture and is preparing a way for you, even when all you see is a dead end. Trust Him, and like me, you will one day look back and marvel at how God turned your wilderness into a testimony of His faithfulness.

Writing Prompt by John Njuguna Irungu
Sometimes believers undergo seasons of wilderness, could be in your ministry and/or in your ordained purpose in life.
These are situations that could lead to despair, depression and present an opportunity to call it quits.
Referencing the book of 1st Kings 19:1-18, write a short story about a time when you overcame a challenging season in the wilderness.
Tell us what helped you win over the temptation to quit, and the lessons learnt