And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58:11)
Whenever I walk around my block, I never fail to appreciate the greenery that surrounds us. We live in a desert country characterized by eight months of scorching summer and four months of 23 degree winters. However, lush landscapes can be found in selected areas. We are privileged to live in one. As I walked this evening, I marveled, at one particular tree. It stood tall and had fresh offshoots sprouting out of its branches. I just had to touch them. How could this tree flourish in such a harsh climate?
This brought me to our desert seasons as Christians; where you find yourself in a place where you feel like there’s nothing for you? Where your spirit feels parched and desolate. Where your strength wanes when you behold the vast nothingness about you. Where you have a ‘why I am here’ moment. Only you can articulate what that season is to you. If you’re going through that right now, read on.
In the Bible we encounter deserts in the following stories:
- Israelite’s forty year journey.
- David’s escapes to the wilderness.
- John the Baptist.
- Jesus Christ.
What we can learn from them:
- Life is in seasons. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
- God is present; He is with us, everywhere and all the time…even in a desert season. (Matthew 28:20)
- God is faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)
- God does not change. (Hebrews 13:8)
- Seek God to find God. (James 4:8)
- God is bigger than the wilderness we’re in. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
- God performs miracles. (Acts 3:16, Deuteronomy 10:21, Jeremiah 32:27)
- Jesus is the Living Water. (John 4:14)
- God watches over us all the time, even in what seems like a vast, solitude place. (Psalm 121)
- We can count it all joy even in this season. (James 1:2-3)
- Rejoice in all things. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
- Your future looks good. (Jeremiah 29:11)
- There is a place of rest. (Psalm 23:2)
- Trust GOD – His will, His way, His Word, just TRUST. (Psalm 20:7)
Remember Jesus’ prayer at Mount Olives; ‘Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.’ (Luke 22:42). God is capable of taking us out of our tough seasons. However, He allows them in our lives to teach and prepare us for a greater good, desert seasons included.
What was your last desert season like? What got you through and what did you learn from it? I’d love to hear from you.
Dear Father, may You be glorified in all seasons and may Your will be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FAITH.GOD.A HUNGER 