Finding New Meaning in Desert

We became aware of our subtle misconceptions of the desert several times throughout the trip when Pastor Mark would refer to the desert from God’s point of view, saying things like, “When God’s beloved children were poor in spirit, He led them into the wilderness so they could become rich in spirit.” And when he talked about it, his voice was tender and his eyes were soft, as if to communicate that the desert was a very special, almost intimate place to be. That certainly had not been our view of the desert.

We began slowly to realize that our own natural impressions of the “wilderness seasons of life” were that they are bad, distasteful, and something to be avoided at all costs. We became aware that often we’ve wrongly assumed that a desert situation had come because we had done something wrong or that something had gone wrong and needed to be fixed. And that the obvious goal, if one found oneself in a desert, would be to get out of it as soon as possible.

At first glance, the desert does appear to be bleak, uninviting, uninhabited, even dead. But slowly, our hearts began to soften to the idea that in fact, for God, desert seasons and wilderness times are alive with possibility. They hold an invitation from His very heart for intimate connection. The wilderness provides perfect conditions for trust to be cultivated, where we can open up to Him, and be met in the realest places of our hearts by a loving Father who knows us better than we know ourselves.

In Hosea 2:14-15, God says of His beloved Israel: “Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel] and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart. There I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [troubling] to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there and respond as in the days of her youth and as at the time when she came up out of the land of Egypt.”

In similar ways, we are coming to believe that God wants to re-story our desert seasons (whether they be because of sadness, fear, loss, or waiting for a promise He’s given to be fulfilled) into “doors of hope and expectation”, where He can speak tenderly to our hearts, transforming the hardship and trouble into a meeting place for connection. A place where we come to know and trust God in deeper ways than ever before.

Engedi

The first 2 days of our study tour in Israel found us in the Judah wilderness. It was dry, dusty, and hot. But on the third day, seemingly out of nowhere, we came upon EnGedi (pic on front cover). This oasis in the desert, some 3000 years earlier, is where David and his 600 companions had sought refuge from King Saul, who was pursuing David to kill him. It is from here that David penned a number of the psalms, pouring out his heart to God for deliverance. The walls of the caves still seemed to ring out with his honest cries for rescue and the might of God’s ever-present help. “I cry out to God Most High, to God, Who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me – God sends forth His love and His faithfulness.” (Psalm 57:2-3)

On Being Led

Often the Israelites referred to their time in the wilderness as “wandering”, but God doesn’t refer to it like that. Instead, He says, “I led you through the desert. You were never alone! I took care of you every step of the way. Your shoes never wore out and I supplied all your needs. I even gave you a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night so that you would always know my Presence was with you to guide you!” (Exodus 16, 23, 40, Deuteronomy 8) In the last several years of ministry, we have sensed God leading us in much the same way. We’re finding we don’t always know all the details of what’s ahead, but He has clearly been leading us by His Spirit. As the pillar of cloud and fire settled over His people until it was time to move forward again, we have sensed God’s Presence directing our staying as well as our going. For instance, we’ll get an impression of where to go next on outreach or the first thing to do once we arrive, and before we know it, ten more opportunities will unfold before us that hadn’t originally been planned. It’s becoming quite the adventure – letting Him lead the way! We are learning to relax and trust confidently that He is absolutely directing our every step and we’re finding security in “staying right on His heels”.