Well, you have certainly been down that road then. Sorry you were in the “wilderness” for so long...but I do think the wilderness path has many things we learn from we cannot learn on any other path and it brings growth with it as we must depend on Christ alone. Not everyone can take that path...it requires much courage and stamina to stand...but we come away knowing Christ more for it I believe.
We all need to hold close to Christ in these times we are in now...there does seem to be a huge ‘sifting’ within all churches and most are quite aware of this who are close to Christ. It may very well be the beginnings of positioning the churches to unite on the world stage....and we may see the true church begin to move ‘underground’ in some respects. I hope not but it is very difficult in these days to find a church that is solid.
I used the time not only to participate with prayer groups, but also to study the Bible, including writing out the entire new testament by hand.
Years ago, here on FR, someone posted a thread about pop music "earworms" -- those annoying songs you can't get out of your head, and freepers including myself posted hundreds of song titles. It really made me realize how deficient I was in gospel earworms -- the memorization of scripture and the daily reading of scripture that used to be common practice in homes and in schools.
I may never be able to make up the wasted time. But with Bibles on end tables next to every armchair and bed in the house, and the car radio always tuned to the Christian station, I'm doing my best.