A Trip To The Desert

I’m writing to you today from the desert. No, I’m not in Arizona or Palm Springs on a spring break trip. I am physically in my natural habitat but spiritually I have left home.

The theme at my church this Lent is Walking with Christ in the Desert. We are being encouraged to head into the wilderness with Jesus, a guide who not only knows the terrain inside and out, but knows us inside and out. A guide who wants nothing more than to help us learn and grow and change. A guide who, from personal experience, knows the desert is the best place to do that.

Many times, in scripture we hear that Jesus goes off to a quiet place when he needs to connect with the Father. He needs that desert time. It was in one of those desert times that he was most tempted by the devil, and withstood temptation because of his dependence on and connection with God.

To grow this Lent, in our connection with God, we need that same time in the desert.  It’s where we need to go for true transformation.

The transformation occurs because in the desert there is quiet. Real silence and solitude can be found there. It’s a space where our minds can escape from the constant barrage of noise and begin to hear the still, small voice that is God’s calling card.

The transformation occurs when we allow ourselves to listen to that voice. The still, small voice of God often whispers truths to us about ourselves that can cause discomfort. Truths we don’t like to admit, but truths we know keep us from being the best version of ourselves. We can have a break through, a healing, if we can stay open to those truths, ask for help in the discomfort, and not let the discomfort cause us to run out of the desert and back to the noise.

Transformation occurs when we can stay in the desert until we are healed. However long that might take. We can’t rush the process. If we are patient and want it bad enough, the change will occur, and along with it, great joy.

I started Lent with good intentions and have already succumbed to the wily ways of the world, which is exactly why I have made a new Lenten resolve, a few weeks in, to head into the desert. I think I will have better luck staying focused and with Jesus there with me, I will have that all-knowing guide to let me know just what healing I need, how to do it, and remind me what awaits if I am patient and stay close to Him.

I’m not sure if laptops are allowed in the desert, but if so, I’ll send updates.

Off to buy some sunscreen,
Joan