Walking Through a Desert Season

A few days ago, I noticed a friend’s social media post: “Life feels really hard right now. Prayers appreciated.”

I typed a quick, “I’m praying for you,” knowing exactly what she meant. I’ve walked through some hard things myself during the past year. Sometimes life feels fresh and full of promise, while other times it feels dry and barren, like trudging through a hot, dry desert.

It’s interesting that deserts play a significant role in Scripture. The Israelites wandered through the desert for 40 years. Jesus went into the desert for 40 days and nights before being tempted by Satan. John the Baptist lived in the desert. And Paul went into the desert for three years following his conversion to be instructed by the Holy Spirit in the ways of God.

There’s something about a desert that’s transformational. It’s a place absent of most life — and what is needed to sustain life. In the desert, a person cannot depend on his surroundings to support his life. The…