Lonely Desert

“Then He led His people out like sheep, took His flock safely through the wilderness.”

Psalm 78:55

God’s plan was more than just wilderness. It was more than suffering for His people. But Israel did not understand. They complained, rather than trusted. They doubted, rather than followed. They only saw the problem before them. Their eyes could only focus on the frustration. For this, they suffered. They refused to just learn a lesson and move on. God had a glorious land planned. Crafted, grown, and gardened especially for them. He wanted to bless them in great measure but the people of Israel could not focus on anything outside of the problem and so there they remained, for forty years. We’ve been there, haven’t we? Maybe not literally roaming around a steaming hot desert but, I can tell you, that we’ve experienced this exact situation: A time when you felt entirely rejected and alone.  You’re overwhelmed. You’re pressured to a corner. You’re pushed aside by the one person who is supposed to hold you the closest. Sounds like a “wilderness” to me. Sounds like Israel. You’re frustrated. You’re even hurt. Time passes but your heart can’t forget, just like Israel. The more you give your attention to your problem is the more you take away your attention from God. Better to give your focus, your trust to Christ who can handle your problem, then to just be content in your desert.