Has your road become weary with no end in sight? Do you feel like the leaves will never return to your trees and their barrenness are a daily discouragement that spring may never come? Each morning you sigh at the lack of hope?
Years ago my brother and I drove across country in the month of July. I decided to move back to California and since I had some belongings we decided to pack up my old Cutlass Supreme and make a road trip out of it. My sister had flown my infant son there already, so, jammed between my brother and I was a car seat with my purse and food packed in it. We couldn't see out the back window because so much of my stuff was smashed into that car. But off we went on our cross-country journey.
I have to mention that my brother is an A to B type person whereas I'm an A, B, C, D...type. His primary goal was to get from point A to point B in as little time as possible where I would have loved to mosey and see things along the way. I like to talk to everyone I meet and stop at antique stores... but on this trip, he was the captain. We drove like maniacs as we took turns at the wheel, making hurried pit stops to get gas and use restrooms. He did most of the driving so I had the opportunity to view most of the United States first hand.
I remember how gorgeous Kentucky was with its vast green hills and horse farms. Missouri for some reason really caught my eye as we drove through it as the sun was at an angle. The shadows from the tilted light gave the terrain a picturesque quality along with the scattered solemn trees that stood on the hills. The heartland's beauty kept my soul filled and my mind occupied as the journey stretched out.
Then, came the Mohave desert with its barren, dry and relentless obscurity. We headed into it with determination as we sang Beatles songs out loud together. The old Cutlass had no air-conditioning and the desert offered no radio reception so our self entertainment was all we had. We drove for miles as the temperature climbed to 120 degrees and the floor of the car was like a bon fire under our feet. It didn''t take long to realize the monotonous boredom and discomfort that the elements were creating. We would literally drive for miles and miles with the only goal of getting over the next horizon with the hope that the desert would end. But, it never relented, over each horizon was just another long stretch of barren desert. It was like groundhog day in hell!
My mind began to feel hopeless as the miles of blistering heat wore my senses down. "When will this end?!, I can't take anymore!!" Was the mantra cycling through my entire being. Reaching another horizon to only find a repetitive stretch of desert reaching out before me again, made me think that I was going to die there. We were racing at 100 miles per hour with our feet blistering from the fiery tar that was burning up the tires. The scorching hot wind from having the windows down seemed to be searing our reasoning powers. Just when you think that God has abandoned you, when you think that God will allow your tires to disintegrate and you will suffer a slow death on the scorching tar...Hope arrives.
The desert finally ended. The freeway opened up and there were towns, commerce, provisions. "Thank you Lord", I kept repeating over and over. The temperature lowered and relief began to enter our consciousness. After a stretch of crowded freeway the road dipped down and then rose up to heaven. There was the Pacific Ocean before us with it's cool breeze and sparkling waves. Hell had transitioned into heaven, despair into hope, roaring heat into refreshing cool air.
THAT STRETCH OF ROAD that seemed to never end, ended. The hopelessness of the mind, now had hope. Hearts that were weak now raced with energy and our flesh found renewal. I will never forget the lesson of the desert and how it positioned me to handle so many "desert experiences" that were still yet to come in my life.
Dear ones, are you in a blistering, lonely desert right now? Does it feel as though God has deserted you and that all hope of ever feeling the coolness of joy has escaped? Is your dilemma or trial appearing endless and you're feeling like each horizon just ushers you into more pain? The Israelites, in their desert of discontent asked, "Can God spread a table in the desert?" I tell you, YES HE CAN. He brought forth water from a rock for them. Not just cups of water but a gushing, over abundance of water! God also rescued Elijah in his desert (1 Kings 19), and Hagar in hers (Genesis 21:8-21), and so many others in His great grace.
Your desert will end but never loose sight that God is in the desert with you. It's there where He meets us in the most personal and profound ways. When we adopt the philosophy that comfort, happiness and self entitlement is due to us, then we stunt ourselves from ever growing and maturing. When life gets tough, I seek out tough people to help me through. Christ himself walked through many deserts, ones of tremendous temptation, loneliness, despair and grief. Should God himself suffer while we refuse to share in those sufferings? (Romans 8:17, 2 Corinthians 1:5,1 Peter 5:1). Jesus endured suffering, even to the cross, for one reason, "For the joy set before Him" (Hebrews 12:2). WE were that joy.
Don't try to get through the desert alone but trust and lean on Jesus. He knows the terrain and will supply all you'll need to get through. He will bring you to waters of refreshment, an ocean for your weary soul. In that time of relief you will realize that your experience in the desert, with your Savior, is a gift that will serve you and others on your earthly travels throughout your lifetime.
Isaiah 32:15, "...till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field and the fertile field seems like a forest."
My favorite place on this entire planet is a forest up in the High Sierras. Yet, I have to drive for hours through the desert to get there. Your desert will end, but, I pray you will get through it with the awareness that Christ is with you. No matter what the elements or lack of scenery or level of discomfort, Jesus has been there and He will get you through.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Carry on.
Years ago my brother and I drove across country in the month of July. I decided to move back to California and since I had some belongings we decided to pack up my old Cutlass Supreme and make a road trip out of it. My sister had flown my infant son there already, so, jammed between my brother and I was a car seat with my purse and food packed in it. We couldn't see out the back window because so much of my stuff was smashed into that car. But off we went on our cross-country journey.
I have to mention that my brother is an A to B type person whereas I'm an A, B, C, D...type. His primary goal was to get from point A to point B in as little time as possible where I would have loved to mosey and see things along the way. I like to talk to everyone I meet and stop at antique stores... but on this trip, he was the captain. We drove like maniacs as we took turns at the wheel, making hurried pit stops to get gas and use restrooms. He did most of the driving so I had the opportunity to view most of the United States first hand.
I remember how gorgeous Kentucky was with its vast green hills and horse farms. Missouri for some reason really caught my eye as we drove through it as the sun was at an angle. The shadows from the tilted light gave the terrain a picturesque quality along with the scattered solemn trees that stood on the hills. The heartland's beauty kept my soul filled and my mind occupied as the journey stretched out.
Then, came the Mohave desert with its barren, dry and relentless obscurity. We headed into it with determination as we sang Beatles songs out loud together. The old Cutlass had no air-conditioning and the desert offered no radio reception so our self entertainment was all we had. We drove for miles as the temperature climbed to 120 degrees and the floor of the car was like a bon fire under our feet. It didn''t take long to realize the monotonous boredom and discomfort that the elements were creating. We would literally drive for miles and miles with the only goal of getting over the next horizon with the hope that the desert would end. But, it never relented, over each horizon was just another long stretch of barren desert. It was like groundhog day in hell!
My mind began to feel hopeless as the miles of blistering heat wore my senses down. "When will this end?!, I can't take anymore!!" Was the mantra cycling through my entire being. Reaching another horizon to only find a repetitive stretch of desert reaching out before me again, made me think that I was going to die there. We were racing at 100 miles per hour with our feet blistering from the fiery tar that was burning up the tires. The scorching hot wind from having the windows down seemed to be searing our reasoning powers. Just when you think that God has abandoned you, when you think that God will allow your tires to disintegrate and you will suffer a slow death on the scorching tar...Hope arrives.
The desert finally ended. The freeway opened up and there were towns, commerce, provisions. "Thank you Lord", I kept repeating over and over. The temperature lowered and relief began to enter our consciousness. After a stretch of crowded freeway the road dipped down and then rose up to heaven. There was the Pacific Ocean before us with it's cool breeze and sparkling waves. Hell had transitioned into heaven, despair into hope, roaring heat into refreshing cool air.
THAT STRETCH OF ROAD that seemed to never end, ended. The hopelessness of the mind, now had hope. Hearts that were weak now raced with energy and our flesh found renewal. I will never forget the lesson of the desert and how it positioned me to handle so many "desert experiences" that were still yet to come in my life.
Dear ones, are you in a blistering, lonely desert right now? Does it feel as though God has deserted you and that all hope of ever feeling the coolness of joy has escaped? Is your dilemma or trial appearing endless and you're feeling like each horizon just ushers you into more pain? The Israelites, in their desert of discontent asked, "Can God spread a table in the desert?" I tell you, YES HE CAN. He brought forth water from a rock for them. Not just cups of water but a gushing, over abundance of water! God also rescued Elijah in his desert (1 Kings 19), and Hagar in hers (Genesis 21:8-21), and so many others in His great grace.
Your desert will end but never loose sight that God is in the desert with you. It's there where He meets us in the most personal and profound ways. When we adopt the philosophy that comfort, happiness and self entitlement is due to us, then we stunt ourselves from ever growing and maturing. When life gets tough, I seek out tough people to help me through. Christ himself walked through many deserts, ones of tremendous temptation, loneliness, despair and grief. Should God himself suffer while we refuse to share in those sufferings? (Romans 8:17, 2 Corinthians 1:5,1 Peter 5:1). Jesus endured suffering, even to the cross, for one reason, "For the joy set before Him" (Hebrews 12:2). WE were that joy.
Don't try to get through the desert alone but trust and lean on Jesus. He knows the terrain and will supply all you'll need to get through. He will bring you to waters of refreshment, an ocean for your weary soul. In that time of relief you will realize that your experience in the desert, with your Savior, is a gift that will serve you and others on your earthly travels throughout your lifetime.
Isaiah 32:15, "...till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field and the fertile field seems like a forest."
My favorite place on this entire planet is a forest up in the High Sierras. Yet, I have to drive for hours through the desert to get there. Your desert will end, but, I pray you will get through it with the awareness that Christ is with you. No matter what the elements or lack of scenery or level of discomfort, Jesus has been there and He will get you through.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Carry on.
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