theoldnewchurch:

We talk about shining Light and burning out, but do we honestly prepare ourselves for the desert? I can honestly raise my hand and say no. I’ve entered a new desert, again. I feel as though I’m standing in the middle of Death Valley, CA with a bottle of water and a ominous note saying “good luck.”

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4

The thing about the desert season is that we feel so desolate and distanced from… everything. Our communion with God is faltering. We’re alone in a crowded room. We’re compelled to to cry and scream in our cars or bedroom. We contemplate our purpose. We do a lot of things to counteract our pain. I will not lie when I say that this hurts like hell. Literally.

I will not tell you to be strong. I’m sorry but you weren’t made to be strong on your own accord. And I know that you know this because our favorite worship songs are about how we fall down and need healing. But the desert period, in particular, is a time that the Father is teaching us that our greatest strength is our weakness.

That’s an odd phrase, isn’t it? Our greatest strength is our weakness. It’s a paradox. But that’s what Christianity is. It is the paradox of all philosophies, of all ways of thoughts, of all history. This paradox determines heaven and hell. And it’s an overwhelming, if not frightening, thing to embrace. We will always be weak and broken, even at our best times and most definitely at our worst.

I often wonder why I face so many deserts in my life. I feel as though they overlap themselves as I am struggling to find the Living Water in all of this. Then I remember that I am not the only one who suffers. We all suffer in our own time. I think that’s the unfortunate part of taking up the cross—it’s so heavy and we are so weak. Consequently, I replay the images of Jesus carrying the element of His death while the scoffers abuse Him, and I’m reminded that He did that so I can survive my desert and pass on His compassion to others that are walking in their own deserts.

God heals and reveals, even when we feel alone in the desert. Whatever pains and sorrows we face in the desert is already being healed by God… but we have to hold on to the belief that the Lord is doing His work. Grab hold of it and embrace it with your entire being. Do not let go of it, even when you hate or blame Him. In the desert your heart is going to break and it will feel like your Spirit has shattered. It is inevitable. You need to accept this period of complete and utter weakness is necessary for you to know the glory of God. As you walk in the desert know that god has not changed; Therefore, His love for you has not changed. We experience pain so that we might know Glory.

I feel as though I have no more energy to write this. Somewhere in this post the Spirit has said everything He needs to say. With tears in my eyes and weight on my heart, I pray that you understand your weakness in the desert. I pray that you continue to walk when you’re in the desert. It’s going to hurt, it will be lonely, it will suck so much energy out of you. Remember that the Christian life will always be a paradox. Beloved, be weak and stay strong in the promises of God. You may be in the desert, but there still is Living Water.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9

9:49 am  •  20 February 2012  •  43 notes