Spiritual Desert

 

1 Kings 19:7-8, “The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.”

Nearly all great bible heroines have gone through a “desert period”: Moses, Elijah, John, even Jesus. Desserts are the time in our lives where we often feel alone and left by God, but that is when we must cry out to God. That is what is happening in 1 Kings 19. Elijah is running away and asks God to take his life. He doesn’t want to live anymore. He believes his life is too hard and he has messed up top much.

Does your life ever feel like that? Are you or have you been in your own desert? A place where your heart and spirit feel drained and unable to be filled?

I want to tell you that God never left you and there is joy in the morning! When the angel came, he told Elijah that the journey was too hard for him, isn’t that true? Isn’t this journey far too long, painful, and hard for us to go alone? Wouldn’t that make things easier if we had the one who’s gone before, leading us? Strengthen yourselves with God’s word as Elijah did with the food God provided.

The best part of this is the end Elijah reached the mountain of God! The mountain of God can represent the place where your spirit feels refilled. It is where you’re learning and rejoicing in Gods wonder.

Where are you now? Are you going through a lonely desert or are you rejoicing in God’s blessing? If you are in a desert, I just want you to know this: God never leaves. The only way you will make it through is by leaning on Him. You must look back at the mountains you have already reached remembering those times of fulfillment. Also cling to the promises of God like, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”. ( Joshua 1:5)

Prayer:

Lord, will you please give me the strength to carry on? Will you help me remember the times of rejoicing? Help me to bask in you great love and cling to your promises of deliverance and love. In Jesus’ name Amen.”

GO DEEPER:

Ponder:

James 1: 1-3, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)

Apply:

Start keeping a journal to help you remember what God has done for you.

Read:

Want More Life? - a teen's devotional

Listen:

“Desert Song” by Natalie Grant. What does this song mean to you?

Share: If you are in a desert now have you been leaning on Him or depending on yourself? How important it is to you to lean on Christ?