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!
No comments:
Post a Comment