Desert

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Exodus 15:22-24

They went into a desert…

I’ve never been in one. But I know that deserts are dry and hot. What survives the harshness of the environment are plants and animals that have creatively adapted themselves to the environment. High temperatures rise during the day and strong winds blow. Rain and dew are sparse. Nights are much cooler, but the following day, the temperatures relentlessly rise again.

Deserts hold so much fascination. There are no sounds of cities, neighbors and noise. Not many distractions are found there. All around is simply raw nature.

There is also so much beauty: the colors of the ever-changing sky, a different sky in every direction, the whirling forms of the sand dunes and the tracks made by desert animals.

The needs in the desert are simple: light clothing by day and warm wraps by night, sustenance of food and, of course, water.

That’s why thirst was very real for the children of Israel. They were probably exhausted and confused as they looked at the sites around them. The desert wasn’t what they pictured freedom to look like.

Yet, the desert was for them a place of God’s testing. When there was no food or water, and temperatures and tempers were high, would the Israelites turn to Him in their emotional and physical desperate need?

For us, we don’t have to go to the desert to experience some of these things. We’re in and out of “deserts” all through our days, sometimes months and sometimes years.

The desert is God’s school of holiness where He wants to show Himself strong through the extreme basic needs of our lives. Everything we truly crave narrows down to only a few things (wants aren’t even in the picture except to want Him).

Some desert moments happen, however, within our souls in the midst of everything we could possibly want or need. God sometimes calls us even in plenty. It happens during life’s trials, and it happens when we choose scarcity of earth’s things (the plenty) just to wander alone with Him without the distractions.

When we’re in the desert, issues of our past sometimes surface to be examined. We meet God in the hard, raw work that must be done. The deepness of the endeavor makes us momentarily forget our needs, much less our wants, and we dive into Him with all we have. The moment is devoid of other voices and of touch, except the hope of the touch of God.

In some desert seasons, we search the horizons for Him, but we strain our eyes only to see nothing, we listen to the howling, harsh winds, but nothing else can be heard though we beg Him to speak. We feel no one’s touch. All of our needs and wants seem to be screaming louder than ever.

The waiting is hard in the presence of His holy silence.

Everything seems stripped from us, and all we can think about are those things that would bring comfort, now. But they become stripped from us one by one. And even more, we hunger for what we think will satisfy.

As the desert clock ticks its time, and day after day our expectations of earth are not met, God steps in and makes Himself known, sometimes in the sunrise, other times in the hug of a friend. He is what we wanted all along. He meets our every need.

Only God…

This is the purpose of the desert: to come to the place where our minds our obsessed with our Father and all else fades into the distance.

Others around us enter their own desert places. We cannot hurry up their desert or fix it to make it better. These harsh, dry spells in their lives must be met in God’s timing and in His way. We can sit with them and watch and pray. Our offerings of water and food are left on their doorsteps. We soothe the blisters on their lips, shoulders and feet. Comfort comes from our help, but we cannot walk through their desert for them.

We wait in the presence of God’s holy silence.

In each of our deserts, we never know what will happen next, a metaphorical wind storm, a cool breeze in the night, a newly found spring of clear cool water or a terrible feeling of loss and forsakenness.

The Israelites had not found water for 3 days. What water they found was too bitter to drink.

Verses 25 says, “Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.

What kind of God puts people into a desert and makes them thirsty enough that all they want is relief, and the only source of relief is Him?

Our God does, for a purpose.

This is their test! This is what they must learn.
This is our test, too!

He is always there in the desert with us, no matter what we may be led to think. He simply wants us to call out His name. He wants us to trust even when we don’t see, hear or feel Him.

HE IS OUR GOD.

Even after the emotional high of the walk on dry ground through the Red Sea, with giant waves standing erect on both sides, the Israelites still needed to know that they would be cared for.

God needed to know that they would lean on Him for every turn in the road.

He went on to give His instructions, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Lord, show us how to creatively adapt to you wherever you lead us, even if it is to the depths of a spiritual desert. We may think in our minds that we want you to adapt to us and our desires. Yet, Father, truly you are THE Healer of our bodies, spirits and souls. In our deserts, help us in the harsh wind to imagine your breath breathing into us, life! Help us as we watch the silent sky to picture your artistic fingers painting it only for our eyes. Help us in the lack of touch, to feel your kiss on our cheeks from the dew in the morning breeze. Help us to finally experience the joy of the desert simply because YOU are there. We believe you are always there, and though things seem utterly lost at times, you will make a way for us in the desert and streams in the wastelands. Thank you, Jesus. In your name, I pray, Amen.

I Don’t Feel Prosperous

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Genesis 39:2

Genesis 37 launches the story of Joseph which extends to the end of the book. In summary, the events of his life include how his brothers sold him into slavery and his master imprisoned him after hearing terrible false accusations. Then Joseph interpreted a few dreams for Pharoah in which several years of plenty would be followed by several years of famine. And Pharoah raised him from his work confined within prison walls to work within and over his kingdom. His job was to prepare them for the famine. In the end, Joseph heroically saved Egypt and his family of origin (the people of God).

The setting of today’s verse takes us to the beginning of Joseph’s time in Egypt as a slave for Potiphar, who was one of Pharoah’s officials. In this frightful stage of the journey, he was learning obedience. He was also learning discernment. And GOD was prospering him.

How did he know the truth of God’s blessings? Somewhere in his spirit Joseph had an inward sense to interpret his circumstances on a deeper level. God was with him through every hardship and hurdle, though Joseph must have been struggling and confused. He must have felt abandoned by his jealous brothers who had sold him into slavery.

However, Joseph would not have fared well (even in God’s prosperity) if a respectful, good nature had been absent from him. Joseph would not have flourished without forgiving what his brothers had done and bearing with his circumstances in absolute, humble trust in God. These attributes take a great self-control and decisiveness, without which he would never eventually have ruled over Egypt alongside Pharoah.

Both God and Joseph had their parts to play. Joseph, though so much had been taken from him, had to have had a heart to receive the grace God was pouring out on him (that could not be taken from him, but only graciously taken or sullenly denied).

Being betrayed by his brothers and becoming a slave would have carried with it great difficulties for Joseph that may have seemed impossible to overcome. Yet, everywhere he went in Egypt for 13 years, he was never harmed. He flourished in whatever circumstance came his way.

Joseph found favor in the eyes of Potiphar who, through time, trusted him with all he had. Later, the prison guard promoted him to the highest place over all the other prisoners. You would think that nothing but fear and dread would have met Joseph there. Yet, everywhere he went and person he met, the job was done well. And even though man had failed him, God used everything to point him to a destination He had ordained. Eventually Joseph would be raised to become second to Pharoah.

Perhaps if someone showed up at the tail end of the story, they would say that Joseph sure did have a bit of luck.

However, nothing that happened to him could be considered fortunate. GOD moved in each situation for His purposes. He took the evil that happened to him and made it into something spectacular.

When loss, distance or struggles divide us from our loved ones in our own seasons of confinement (many circumstances we go through feel like a prison), we can rest assured that nothing separates us from our Father, God. In the most humbling experience, we have our Rescuer and Deliverer. We have a work to do, and our work is as unto the Lord not unto people who fail us.

When we take the time to comprehend that we are always in company with Him, which satisfies all we’ve lost, we are able to receive the blessings He desires to pour out on us. Though we may not feel it, we can interpret our circumstances to see with spiritual eyes that we are indeed prospering (at all times) and God is prospering others around us as well. We’re finding joy in our trials by giving our best, all to the glory of God. We’re shining the light He shines in us.

On the other hand, is it possible that a complaining spirit could actually block the good God wants to do in our lives?

Father, Joseph could have disdained your blessings and refused to be moved from his despair. We could make that same sad choice. What would we miss out on? What would others around us miss as well? In our losses, help us to learn to bear whatever is thrown our way. Help us to know that you are with us and you are prospering us even now. In Jesus name, Amen.

How Long, Lord?

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13

Sometimes, life simply fails us at moments when we most need to be lifted up, and because we are human, we hurt. We become confused and can be in despair as David so poignantly expressed of himself.

Today’s psalm may have been written during King Saul’s pursuit and threats to David. David was at the end of his rope.

Yet, somehow in just a few verses, he found his peace once again.

Though I love watching movies. I have always found it interesting that the characters are faced with impossible problems in each segment, but somehow by the end of 30-45 minutes, a bow is nicely wrapped around each and every issue, and generally everyone goes home happy and satisfied (except for the bad guy).

“No way!” we cry! But we still love watching these shows. We love happy endings.

It dawned on me as I read today’s Psalm that David accomplished this. His circumstances didn’t change, but by the end of his rantings and ravings, his soul found rest in his God. He was satisfied.

I think this is beautiful! And the process he went through is something we can all do.

At the beginning of his agonizing prayer, his situation had left him feeling abandoned by God. Most of us have felt this way. We may KNOW in our heads that God exists, but we want Him to show up and be active in our difficult trials.

Yet, what would it be like if God really did leave us? In reality, we wouldn’t be able to go forward. A universe without Him would be void and lost.

In his trial, David still believed God was near. Why cry out to Him if He had disappeared? The psalm simply speaks of David’s authentic struggles before the Lord concerning his greatest and deepest hurts.

When a woman is giving birth, the labor pains feel like they will last forever. The struggle is long and wearying. But when the child comes forth the pain is forgotten.

David, in a sense is giving birth (as are we in our struggles). He is going through something in which God is right there with him and is moving in mighty ways all around him. One day the running (from Saul) will stop. One day, God will make things new. One day the birth will be complete. But for now, David complains to his One and Only. The One who hears his cries as he expresses ANYTHING that sits in his heart, ANYTIME.

He begs God to give him light. And though God still ‘hides his face,’ David is being taught how to see more clearly and in a deeper way than if God came and solved all his problems right then.

Feelings can steer us in the wrong direction, even into a fog, but the light of God gives us fresh eyes to know His presence and to have a better understanding of our situations. David is learning how to strengthen his faith, how to have hope in the waiting, and how to rejoice in the Lord, despite his trials.

In David’s psalm, there is a turning point, a glorious ‘but!’

“But I trust…”

He is done looking into his own heart for answers. Now he turns and really looks into the eyes of the One who is greater than himself and his fears, the Lord of all. He calls things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17).

When we can remember, in our desperation, that our trust and our dependence is not on ourselves, but on a Mighty God, we are remembering the solid rock on which we stand. God’s Spirit lives in us to remind us of this every day.

Then we can see that we are being made holy by the Father, and we can be thankful in His powerful presence. He is there, always there. Our mourning turns into dancing. Our despair turns into praise.

The circumstances may remain the same, but the fear, resentment and sadness inside the darkness fade into an all-consuming heart-felt worship of a Majestic and Awesome Father God. We cling to Him alone.

What we wanted before doesn’t seem as fearful or terrible when we remember that He, indeed, is with us.

Certainly, in our times of darkness, our eyes and ears become aware of others who need our experience of Him. We can comfort those who are going through what we have gone through.

We teach them to bring their longings and sadness and cast their cares upon a Mighty God. We show them that we can still rejoice, for God is good.

Lord God, there are so many who remain in impossibly hard times. And we all cry, “How long, Lord?” Please open up our eyes to your light. Let us know your goodness. Help us to see and learn and grow during our dark times. Walk with us. Strengthen our faith and give us hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Grace and Faith

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

I want to share an old song that I love:

Familiar things tend to go unnoticed, until one day what is familiar becomes new.

That’s what grace and faith did for me this week. They each showed up unexpectedly, tipped their hats and introduced themselves to me in a whole new way.

I was alone and thinking through my life. Some parts of it were making me sad, and to a certain extent, were drawing my attention away from God. So I took out my phone and looked at a text I had sent myself – the verse for the day: Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” As I read, I saw the words grace and faith and began to meditate about my life with new eyes.

In the middle of it all, a dawning came over me that God was at that very moment giving me His free gift of grace, covering my sin. Through faith in the One who is worthy to be believed, He was providing me with an opportunity to accept His precious gift. He was giving me the ability to view my circumstances differently, and then to live my life in accordance with that view.

God gives me grace to enable me to live my life for Him.

The more I thought about it, the more I allowed the grace to come in (it was my responsibility to receive it) and cover my sadness. I knew that God had things for me to do, tasks that required me to be ALL there.

On the foundation of His grace, my mind grew stronger, my body felt more equipped, and I knew in faith that I could go forward.

Knowing I was full of God’s grace, my thoughts turned to the next word, faith.

Faith is acting on the assumptions of my beliefs, even though I can’t prove any of it. I’m stepping forward as if…

…AS IF…

I act as if I can see God’s workings when in fact the evidence I SEE with my physical eyes is the opposite. Keeping my eyes on ‘the opposite’ is why my feelings can drive me to sadness ALL THE TIME.

Bravely walking full steam ahead into my situation, I believed that God would take care of me and would do what needed to be done through me.

Things would be much less complicated and much more pleasant without having to face the heavy things of my life. But if that were the case, my faith wouldn’t grow. I wouldn’t have a chance to test the grace that God pours out on me in His mercy, but also the grace of energy He gives me to do what is right. I wouldn’t experience giving grace (forgiveness) to others. I wouldn’t witness God’s power at work right in front of me.

And so it goes, I allowed sadness to teach me to lay it down in order to pick up God’s gifts of grace and faith with confidence to begin my tasks for the day.

The enemy always reminds me about why I should be so unhappy. He tells me I can’t live without this or that. He accuses me that I’m a horrible person and that I’m the one to blame in my circumstances.

Grace and faith tell me something different. They tell me that joy comes from anticipating God’s gifts in abundance, gifts that can always become good (even the sadness). They remind me that life really isn’t going to go as well if I don’t reach out to Him and accept daily the beautiful things He tries to offer me. A bad life isn’t the result of earthly loss (terrible circumstances can be overcome with His help). But, when I try to live life without God, I am truly helpless and empty. God loves me with passion and covers all my sins.

Sometimes, I hear Him nudge me with a bit of a self-satisfied smile to say; “You’re welcome.” (Because the things that used to make me sad end up becoming the very things that change my life into something wondrous to behold.)

THAT’S how to deal with the bothersome irritants that daily haunt me.

I thank you Father for even the sad times and for the confusing stuff of life that makes me feel out of control. Thank You for Your grace and for giving me the faith I need to believe in You. When I allow You in the picture, ALL things are redefined through a whole other perspective. Give me wisdom to see this way every day and not to buy into the enemy’s lies. Lord, help me to open my gifts from You with breathless anticipation and joy. May the wonder of Your gifts never die. Let me be like a child, jumping forward to receive what You have for me today. Give me visions of Your face as You give me gifts with great delight. You are my best gift. Thank You, Father. In Jesus name, Amen.