Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.
Hosea 2:14
It is natural to hear a Christian say: I am going through a desert, when you are going through a difficulty... Is this bad? Many of us spend a large part of our lives on the path of the Lord, thinking that everything must be roses; Believing that if something goes wrong, it is because we are in sin or lack faith, but reality is not like that.
The Word says that our faith is to be tested as gold, it has to pass through fire; past this will reveal how strong we can become (1 Peter 1:7). The Bible is full of countless stories, of characters that like you and I went through problems and painful situations.
Does this mean that God did not love you or that you were in sin? Not necessarily.
In the desert were the children of Israel after being released from the Egyptian yoke (Exodus 13:17-18,20); in the desert was David fleeing from King Saul (1 Sam 23); Jesus himself was taken to the desert to be tempted by satan (Matthew 4: 1-11).
These biblical characters were literally wandering through arid areas. If we imagine the picture can be quite discouraging, Just seeing ourselves in a similar situation produces a feeling of anguish and loneliness; but they were not alone.
In the desert Israel knew the power and protection of God until they were introduced into the promised land (Exodus 13:21-22; 16:4); in the desert David walked while he fled from the death threats from King Saul, he recognized that God kept his life, producing in him a strengthened faith (Psalm 63); After 40 days and 40 nights of fasting and the temptations of Satan in the desert, Jesus returned to his fortified land to begin his ministry with signs and wonders (Luke 4:14).
What is then the desert, but a period in which we understand that all those situations that escape from our hands, have their solution under the care of our God. The desert is that place where we are exposed in all our weakness; In order to know how strengthened and sheltered we can be under the protection of our father. The desert is that place of intimacy where all our dependence falls on God and we are transformed after a renewed faith.
In the desert, God speaks to our heart and teaches us that we are never and never will be alone. In times of abundance and happiness let us not forget what we have learned, let us not forget the whisper of our father. If we look back it is to remember his feats and promises.
