“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.” Hosea 2: 14 

The thought of spending time in a desert puts most anyone on edge. It’s made for insects and reptiles, not human beings. If you’re going to hike there, better have appropriate footwear, sun protection, plenty of food and water, and a well thought out first aid kit. The heat can be brutal; shade trees nearly non-existent. 

Spiritual deserts can be just as treacherous. Though I think I’ll do okay with a period of isolation, it will still take me by force.  It won’t take long to feel the challenges.  Nothing will be as easy as I think it’s going to be.  At times, it will seem like God has retreated and I am on my own.

Having survived a few deserts in my lifetime, I will tell you how life changing they were. My testimony of time in the wilderness is not unique. God gave similar experiences to other men and women of faith. 

    *Moses was sent to the backside of the wilderness so that God could shape him into one of the greatest leaders in history. 

    *Esther must have felt she’d been sent into the dark abyss of enemy territory before she discovered that her desert was the doorway to her people’s spiritual destiny. 

   *David learned that the art of shepherding in the barren hills of Judea was the perfect training for shepherding a nation.  

    *And Jesus, before he ever entered public ministry, was led into the desert by His Father for forty days. There, He learned obedience and how to endure assaults from the kingdom of darkness.

Deserts appear as places of punishment but I would be wrong to just assume that. I consider today’s scripture.  God says He allures His child to the desert.  Away from the noise of busy life, He will speak tenderly to her and groom her for what is ahead.  Only as I ask God for a complete change in mindset will I be able to see that what is so distasteful is really the doorway to the most stunning God encounter I’ll ever experience. 

I’m listening. I’m open.  I’ll stop fighting for change and look for the beauty of Your face. Amen