09/24/2023
The Desert Years.
I don't know why this stood out to me. Maybe it's because I find myself in a spiritual desert created from my own wayward heart. (I don't have it all together, sorry to disappoint you.) Maybe you find yourself in a desert wilderness. Maybe it's been for a day, a week, a month or maybe, just maybe you've been wandering here for years. In silence. Wandering. Not willing to vocalize the internal longing for departure from this dry barren parched place because you want to maintain the illusion that you're not actually here. Maybe you find yourself here because of some self inflicted sin, some momentary lapse of judgement that led to reaping a whirlwind of desert. Maybe you find yourself here because your loved one was taken all too soon from this sin stained world. Maybe the LORD God Himself saw fit to place you here of His perfect Divine will as he did with your brothers, Moses, Joshua, Elijah and Jesus. Whatever the reason for your being here, don't grow disillusioned by the mirages of Satan. Don't be led astray as in the days of provocation. These mirages are very convincing, especially since the heart already wants an easy way out of this place. No. Stay here for your time of testing. Til your God leads you across Jordan. Be fed and led and take bed in and by His sovereign provision. Though this might look like the unsightly manna, or wearing the same old clothes or drinking the rock tasting water that quenches your soul. His guidance will never make sense as long as we walk in the flesh. His leadership is spiritually followed. Get up, I know you're weary. So am I. But this wilderness journey will end for there is a day of rest ahead and a day of resurrection.
Life isn't always good. Or nice. Or pleasant. Circumstances aren't always ideal and agreeable. The wilderness is far from enjoyable, but obedience to the Chief Shepherd yields the fruit of maturity on the other side. Finishing this voyage leads to becoming full grown in Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living God.
Embrace these "desert years" realizing the LORD your God is cutting away your self reliant tendencies, and every secret idol of your heart. He's doing a work on and in you my friend. Let it happen soldier. Take heart.
πͺ