THE BARREN DESERT

Looking at the bare trees in late fall, one can sense the winter months are quickly approaching here in the northeast.  I was a little saddened looking at this scene, as I do not prefer the winter months as much.  It is more difficult being inside most of the time because of the colder weather; how I enjoy being out in nature, especially since this pandemic started.

 

 

This view was at least comforting with having the sun beating down though it was still very chilly.  In fact, I had five layers of sweaters and coats on!

 

Have you ever felt like those barren trees?

Feeling like you are stripped of everything,

nothing seems to be going right,

the wind got knocked out of your sails,

the rug pulled out from under you?

 

 

Life can be quite difficult when we are stripped of everything in this world.  Often we wonder why God allows certain things to happen.  These times may bring us to our knees in desperation.  We search for God’s presence, trying to find His loving touch and embrace.

 Gazing at the sun shining so brightly on the barren trees made me think…when we are stripped of everything in this world, we actually still have everything!

 

 

We have the most important thing, the Son in our lives. He is still shining on and in us.

 

I thought about the story of Job, from the Old Testament, who was blessed abundantly by God.  He was blameless and an upright man.  God and Satan discussed Job’s character.  God granted Satan permission to remove all the “things” in Job’s life: except for his wife, all of his family, servants, and animals die.  Even Job’s house collapsed.  Job then experienced painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He was in much physical and emotional agony.

Despite all of these losses and tragedies, Job still kept persistent in his belief in God and His goodness.  That is until three “friends” came to Job trying to discourage him and give him more “worldly” advice rather than Godly counsel.  Job, Chapters 3-37, shares the advice the friends gave Job and his response to them.

Eventually, after continually hearing his friend’s thoughts, Job began to be angry with God, even cursing Him for the suffering he endured.  God spoke to Job, letting him know that God is God and has His reasons for things that happen.  Job needed to trust God, knowing that God was still present, even in his suffering. 

Job eventually repented of his cursing God and returned to the Lord in faithfulness and trust.  God made Job’s life more prosperous than it had been originally.  He had more children, and even more animals, and wealth because he fully trusted the Lord with his life and everything that happened.

 

 

~God can use our suffering to test and strengthen us

~God accepts our repentance

~God’s ways are not always our ways

~God is always with us

~God knows our pain

~Trust God even in our suffering

~Depend solely on the Lord

~Continue to praise God

~God is the one who sustains us–not the things in this world

~God’s presence in our suffering will guide and protect us

May we, when going through the barren desert in our lives, be encouraged to seek the Lord and Godly counsel to help us see that we can trust God.  Keep reaching for Him knowing He is always with us and guiding us.

 

May we be able to say like Job,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”  –Job 1:21  (NIV)

Then Job replied to the Lord:  “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”  –Job 42:1-2  (NIV)