Is your heart weary? Are you exhausted from the constant changes in life? Or have you given up or run from God? Do you feel like He’s forgotten you? Are you loaded with way more questions than answers? Are you in a situation in life that you don’t know the end result of?
You may find yourself in a desert like atmosphere in life. Perhaps you’re in a wilderness, coming out of one, or heading into one. This is the steady flow of life.
“There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.”
– Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is such beauty in all those good times. The times to dance, embrace, love, and laugh. But the negatives in all of these are just as important. Sometimes even more.
Though we are greatly encouraged by the joyous times, they don’t necessarily transform us. We are definitely grateful for them. They become cherished memories. But they also allow for self-sustainability. Times of great celebration reminds us of the abundance we have and how good life is. But it can also distract us and cause too much independence; thinking that we don’t need anything or anyone because we don’t need help. We can do it on our own.
There will come a time when we will be able to live in continuous joy and peace, while keeping perfect dependence on the Lord. But until then, our spirit and flesh are at war within us.
This is why we often find ourselves in a time of trial, or a wilderness season. It’s often hard and wearisome. Something in life happens that leaves our security, self-sufficiency, and control a little shaken. It’s caused us to question what’s happened and why? Our souls know that this isn’t right. It’s not the way it’s supposed to be. So we grieve the loss. We get angry. We get confused and feel lost.
None of those are bad. They all show us that we need someone/something to help us. It reveals our need for the Lord’s intervention. It reminds us that this world is much bigger than what we can handle.
And so, we feel like we wander around in a desert looking for answers, help, and direction.
We aren’t alone. There have been many others in the Bible who found themselves in this situation too. Some of them were running from someone. Others walked into the wilderness to find something. All ended up with the same kind of answer: A Humble Beginning.
This idea has been something that’s been stirring within me for a while now until I came to an “Aha” moment. It’s like the Lord linked all the pieces together and it all clicked. I’d like to walk you through this idea of “Humble Beginnings” for the next several weeks and reveal to you what I’ve been learning about some pretty profound people of the Bible.
Your wilderness journey is not wasted. You’re not lost. It’s right where you belong. You’re not being punished. The Lord is conditioning, teaching, and disciplining you to be able to do so much more. Out of the hard times of the desert comes a confident, unshakable hope that pushes you forward to who God desires you to be.
Stick with me as we discover more about this next week.
