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God With Us in the Desert

Desert. 

Chew on that word a bit. Maybe you think of the verb. To desert is to abandon or leave a person or a cause, especially at a crucial moment when you’re most needed. Maybe you’ve felt deserted. Maybe you think of the noun: a place with scorching sun, desolate landscape, and the scarce cactus riddled with painfully sharp spines. Maybe you’ve been through some deserts in your life.

Much of the Bible was either written or lived in regions of the world that exemplify the noun, desert. Think about that for a minute. The Earth-restoring, heart-quenching, spiritually nourishing cold cup of water that is the Word of God was birthed, for the most part, in the desert. Come on!

Have you experienced a dry season in your faith, your finances, your marriage, your family, your work? Maybe it feels like more than a season. Maybe you feel like you’re living in a dry region. Maybe you feel deserted. Be encouraged. Our God is the God who chose to speak His words of life from the desert. 

Need more proof? Where were the Israelites set free from captivity? A desert-land. Where was Moses when God, through a burning bush, called him to lead His people out of Egypt? That holy ground was also dry ground. Where did God’s people learn to trust God for daily food, water, and direction? The wilderness. Where was Elijah when God sent birds to feed him? You guessed it. Where did David earnestly seek God? In a dry and weary land. Where was Jesus right before He announced His ministry to Earth? The desert. 

Does God desert His people at the crucial moments when they need Him the most? Well that depends whether you’re talking about the verb or the noun. As for the verb, no, God will never leave us nor forsake us. He’s clear about that. As for the noun, yes, God has a history of allowing His people to experience dry seasons and regions. The desert reveals God as a trainer, not a traitor. He’s a compassionate coach, not an absent killer. The desert teaches us to thrive without rain by connecting directly to the rainmaker. He’s right there with us, encouraging us in power, teaching us to dig deep wells in Him, to rely on the water Jesus talked about, that leaves us never thirsting again. 

Are you tired, worn out, dry? Where are you looking for sustenance, comfort, and love? What can the desert teach you?

Pray: God, forgive me for thinking You deserted me. Teach me to rely on You for my deepest needs. Thank You for being with me in the desert.