Blooming In The Desert

Occasionally, our family will find ourselves driving through some desert regions as we travel the globe: from Namibia, South Africa to the Sonora Desert of Arizona and California. As most folks imagine, it can be fairly desolate and lifeless—to the untrained eye. This misperception often gives the desert a bad reputation…a place only of death, loneliness, and unbearable heat.

Now, I must admit that too many people have unnecessarily lost their lives when they ventured into those desert sands unprepared. With something like 4% humidity, it doesn’t take long without water to become disoriented, dehydrated, and dead. When we traveled in Namibia, South Africa, we actually had a guide who led us through some sand dunes and I was amazed at how every sand dune looked just like the next one! I would have gotten lost without our guide.

But the desert has a life all its own and the secret to life in the desert—and anywhere for that matter—is water! Whether in the form of water droplets from dew, or the occasional rains that come, water allows the desert to bloom and thrive. The names of some desert flowers shed light on the mysterious beauty and unforgiving nature of the desert: Common Fiddleneck, Brittlebush, Burroweed and Coyote Tobacco just to name a few. The numerous cacti plants store some water so their beautiful flowers can bloom at night as well as in the spring and summer months when the extra rains come. So as you can imagine, water is something that we just can’t live without.

As I thought about the desert I remembered that God sometimes leads us into desert places for a season. He does this for solitude, seasons of study, and silence, which helps us hear His voice when He speaks. He did this with the apostle Paul after his conversion to Christianity (Galatians 1:17-18). Paul shares how he went to Arabia (probably the Sinai Peninsula area) for three years of prayer and study of God’s word. This time apart helped prepare Paul for his apostolic ministry to the Jews and Gentiles—and even to us today.

Although it can be unpleasant when we go through those desert experiences, the Scriptures tell us that God often “turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water” (Psalm 107:35). Rivers of spiritual water flow out of our relationship with God that causes divine flowers to bloom—even in the midst of our deserts. So, the next time you find yourself noticing the barrenness of your landscape, look up and see if God is trying to reveal some surprising secrets to you. Use your times of solitude and silence to read God’s word and seek a deeper relationship with Him. There just might be a spiritual flower that is getting ready to bloom!

Crying Out

by Dr. Marshall M. Windsor

I recently read an article concerning a large evangelical church overseas in which the lead pastor was implicated in serious legal issues. The thought of another fallen evangelical leader grieved my heart. I knew this would have significant repercussions across the evangelical church world and to those outside the church. I could almost hear the unchurched exclaim: “Another corrupt minister!” “Who wants that kind of spirituality?” “I’ll never darken the doorstep of a church like that!” “Now you know why I don’t go to church.” Sadly, these expressions are all too common in a day when spiritual leaders are failing and even secular leaders are failing to lead.

I’m reminded of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15. When the people demanded a king so they could be like all the other nations, Samuel anointed Saul – as God directed. But when Saul became prideful and feared the people more than God (vs. 24), he sinned against God and those he led. Saul tried to defend his actions (vs. 20) and denied that he had sinned, but when the prophet spoke the word of the Lord, Saul was confronted with the truth of this actions, and the kingdom was torn from his hands (vs. 28).

Earlier in the chapter (vs. 10) God spoke to Samuel and told him that he had rejected Saul because of his disobedience. The scriptures state that Samuel was angry with Saul for his disobedience and cried out to the Lord all night long (vs. 11). When sin entered the camp of the Lord, it was the man of God who cried out.

Today, we often have lots of turbulence that stems from the actions of our leaders – both spiritual and secular at the local, state and federal levels at times. I wonder how many of us have cried out to God all night long for our communities? Our leaders? Our country? Our churches? James 5:16 says that the effective, fervent (even all night?) prayer of a righteous man (or woman) avails much. It’s always easier to find fault with others in leadership, but finding our way to a place of prayer is much more effective. Since our battle is not against flesh and blood (Eph 6:12), but spiritual wickedness, it may be time for us to hunker down and cry out to God for our leaders across the land; because only God can change hearts and bring lasting peace in the midst of chaos.