I know I'm not the only one who gets that, and yet when I'm in that place I'm convinced it is uniquely mine.
Yet just last night, God was whispering to me, "Delight in the desert."
And yet, this is what He spoke to me. So it must be possible.
For that which God calls us to He has also equipped us for.
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
{Isaiah 35:1-2}
When I feel dried up and parched, when I think I have been deserted, there is hope. God can speak life to me and I will not only be revived, but I can burst into bloom, shout for joy with great rejoicing, and be glad.
In Deuteronomy 32:10 it says that He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Isaiah 35:6 reassures us that then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Obviously, God really digs the desert. There is a lot He likes to do in it. He seeks out those who are in it, in a howling wilderness, and leads them and instructs them. He ministers miraculous healing and equips those who are woefully in need.
He creates sources of provision out of nothing!
My favorite desert verse, though, is found in Hosea 2:14-16. Here God tells us through the prophet that He is going to call out to His wandering beloved and allure into the desert with the intention of speaking tenderly to her there. He will RESTORE to her the things that have been taken from her and TRANSFORM her pain into HOPE. And from that day forward she will be able to call Him HUSBAND instead of master.
Okay, God. I think I get it. I can, indeed, delight in the desert.
Maybe not in the scenery or the inevitable sand in my eyes and dust in my food, but in the communion we are going to have there. I can delight in hearing you more clearly because I have been stripped of every other influence. I can delight in the restorative work you want to do in my life. I can delight in your boundless provision that springs out of impossible circumstances. I can delight in coming to as your beloved bride and calling out to you, Husband!
Lord, take me to the desert. I am hungry to delight in you!
Well I've been emotional for a little while because there have been upsetting things going on. After 4 pay cuts, my husband is going to lose his job. They may have another job for him but it won't be a secure job - it will be a "when they need him here and there" job. We have four daughters to take care of, bills to pay and as much as I trust in the Lord completely to take care of us....I have a fear in my heart about going through the desert. Your words gave me some peace here but I admit I still fear the desert. I have a ways to go before I will be delighting in it, I think. I don't really know. Right now, I'm fearful of it. I've been there before and my relationship with God was even sweeter and closer and I had peace....but to know you are going there again... well it's just scaring me. Thank you for this post. Maybe I will have a similar post in the desert or when I come out of it. With prayer, God may even save us from the desert. He works miracles after all. Anyway, sorry this is so long. Thank you for your encouragement.
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I've been there...seems like when I look back on my life, I can remember many, many times when I walked through the desert...but I always come out of it thirsty..thirsty for more of God and more of his word. Oddly enough, I read Deuteronomy 8 this morning and recommend you read it too! Hope it brings you the same encouragement it brought me!!
ReplyDeleteCassidy, I am writing you down in my prayer journal ... I am going to be lifting you guys up to God! And if you hit a place where you need MORE prayer, let me know; my kids and I will storm heaven for you. We've seen God provide again and again, so I have no doubts HE IS ABLE - WILLING - and it is just a matter of HIS TIME and HIS WAY.
ReplyDeleteCourtney, loved Deut 8! Thanks :) I have been getting so much encouragement from your joy and openness and thank you for this passage and your comments. Have a blessed day.
This is amazingly beautiful! I want Him to draw me away, not just to the high places, but to the desert places so that I can truly delight in Him!
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