Thursday, March 13
Finding God in the Desert
“…you will rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given you and your household.” – Deuteronomy 26:11
I’ve never been to a desert, but I don’t think I’d like it very much. I have a hard enough time in Southeastern Louisiana. As a proud Midwesterner, I am not built for heat. As a person struggling with Multiple Sclerosis, I really don’t like heat as it can trigger symptoms and make me even more miserable. These “winter” days with highs in the 80s are far from my ideal. In the past, February has been a tough month for me because of the never-ending snow and slush and cold, but this year it’s the relentless sun and heat that are beginning to wear me down.
I often find myself longing for a respite from the heat. I want to be able to wear sweatshirts outside. I want to walk my dog more than half a block before her tongue lolls out the side of her mouth. I wonder at the people who actually enjoy this. It can be hard to find the joy when so many of the things I’d like to do are unavailable to me due to the weather. I’m lost in a desert (well, at least it feels like it).
Sometimes I get lost in the desert of life-the business, the stress, the to dos. Yet even in these moments when I feel depleted and dried out, God still blesses me. Despite its reputation as a desolate place, full of dead things, the desert is actually full of life. There are animals and plants that thrive in deserts. Unlike a mirage, these blessings are real: the nap stolen in fifteen minutes of downtime, the connections made with others running to and fro, the rest that finally comes exactly when you need it. God’s love, mercy, and abundance is present even in the bleakest of places. When the heat feels like too much, when the desert of life feels too barren, when you don’t know when you’ll ever find your way out of the endless stretches of struggle-God is there, too. Sometimes, we can even see him better when there aren’t so many distractions.
Next time you find yourself in a desert, look around. God will be there.
Hannah Froehlich