“And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.” Mark 1:11-13a
Anyone going through a desert time spiritually? Desert times can look and feel different at different times to different people.
I’ve been experiencing some desert times myself the past couple of years. God sometimes feels distant to me, even though I know he’s not. And even though I’ve heard him speak clearly through his Word, I don’t always hear his voice as clearly in my spirit as in times past. Like my friend Nancy described it, God is being quiet.
When we’re going through desert times, it’s easy to feel like God may not be pleased with us, but I’ve been encouraged by the above scripture and the example of Jesus in his desert time. Notice how just before God sent Jesus into the desert, the Father declared his pleasure with his Son. In fact, God was well pleased with Jesus but still sent him into a desert time.
Friends, isn’t it good to know that even when we feel like we’re in a spiritual desert, we can have the assurance that we are God’s dearly loved children and that he is still pleased with us? So if we’re not in a desert of our own making because of our sin and poor decisions (and thus needing a restored relationship with God), let’s rest in the knowledge that God is not displeased with us. As always, he still loves us.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1
*How do you stay close to God when you find yourself in a desert time spiritually?
*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. Sign up is free and to the right!
*Flickr photo by HORIZON, Creative Commons License
Thank you. A beautiful post.
You’re welcome, Pat — and than you for your sweet words and encouragement!
Cheryl,
These lines and concepts intrigue me tonight… “Notice how just before God sent Jesus into the desert, the Father declared his pleasure with his Son. In fact, God was well pleased with Jesus but still sent him into a desert time.”
Thank you!
Praying your desert time passes quickly into dessert time :) and times of refreshing from our God who walks beside us.
Warmly,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
You’re welcome, Jennifer — and thank you for your sweet wishes for my desert time to soon become dessert time and times of refreshing. Love that thought!
Cheryl, I’ve been actively listening and seeking to recognize God’s voice. Sometimes it comes in the form of something odd happening, or something unexpected. I might be trying to hard, but I am writing it down so that when I think he is quiet, I can look back and see that he has been active.
Jana, I love your idea of writing down the times you hear or sense God’s voice speaking to you — thanks for sharing! Sounds similar to what I do with my “Mighty Things” journal where I right down the mighty things I see God do in my life. Such a good reminder of the reality of God at times when my faith might waver. Blessings to you this week, my friend!