The Journey: Part 1 - The Wilderness

After dwelling on Hosea 2:14-16 for probably the bajillionth time, my eyes were opened to something new: the important connection and perfect order taking place within the journey. A painful journey, but truly one that is prescribed by God - drenched in purpose, refinement, and ultimately the Lord's drawing us closer to Him. How this new outlook on Hosea has shaken my heart. This journey is not about someone or something else - it is about God and knowing Him more. I am hoping to blog about four distinct seasons within this section of Hosea, highlighting parts of the God-ordained journey that takes place within the scripture and in our lives. No matter what "part" or place you find yourself in, know there may be times when you reach a new place, that next fork in the road. In this journey of life, we experience several of the same seasons many times. But truly, each fork in the road, each step and season is God-ordained and He is with us there.

The first part of Hosea 2 - one i feel I've come to know all too well in the past year - is the wilderness. The desert, the dry place: "But i will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there" - Hosea 2:14. Ah, the desert. Though people may experience different extremities and versions of the desert, it's always a trying place. But in this verse, one of God's infinite truths is revealed: He is with us in the desert. In fact, He leads us there. When we are called to a wild abandonment of our own dreams, of life as we know it, when He beckons us to lay something at His altar and follow Him, it seems as though a desert season is sure to follow. For here, in this desert, is where He reveals our dire need for Him. The new calling starts to replace our old life. Here, is where He speaks tenderly to us and reveals more of His character. Here, in the desert, we are refined: These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than gold. 1 Peter 1:7. Our faith is tried and perfected. If we are to journey with the Lord, and truly live our life for His glory alone, desert times are necessary. For here is where we are stripped of our own lives and led to lean on the Lord, so that when we come up from the desert we rely on Him alone: Who is this sweeping in from the desert, leaning on her lover? - Song of Songs 8:5.

How i loathe this desert time. How i have grown sick of what seems like impenetrable sorrow. But, as much as i despise the condition of my heart and the trying of my faith, I have seen God's hand in this desert time. It is truly God-ordained. He is teaching me painful lessons but ultimately leading me to know Him MORE. Have you seen God in your desert times? I promise you, He is there. He is working. He is preparing you for the next part of the journey, for something bigger than yourself. Ask Him to deliver you, but while you wait, trust Him and His timing. He is restoring to you the joy of His salvation. Embrace Him in the desert. In the brilliant words of John Piper, as he refers to times of darkness (similar to or indistinguishable from the desert time): "Never forget that your security rests on Christ's faithfulness first. Our faith rises and falls. It has degrees. But our security does not rise and fall. It has no degrees. We must persevere in faith. That's true. But there are times when our faith is the size of a mustard seed and barely visible. In fact, the darkest experience for the child of God is when his faith sinks out of his own sight. Not out of God's sight, but his" [Piper, When Darkness Will Not Lift, 38]. We may feel like our faith is insignificant at times, like our faith is too tried and wavering to be real. But hold on, Christ is coming. Trust that in a season of trial, in this desert time, in the period of waiting and walking through the desert.

"The prophet Micah experienced prolonged and painful waiting. "I sit in the darkness...unitl [The Lord] pleads my cause and...will bring me out to the light" (Micah 7:8-9). We can draw no deadlines for God. He hastens or he delays as he sees fit. And his timing is all-loving towards his children. Oh, that we might learn to be patient in the hour of darkness. I don't mean that we make peace with darkness. We fight for joy. But we fight as those who are saved by grace and held by Christ" [Piper, 36].

Find hope in this desert. God is moving and leading and speaking. He has plans for You, for us, even in this dry place.

Desert: A place of trials, refining, purifying of faith and learning to rely solely on Him.