Deserts and Learning to Want What Really Matters

Much of the inspiration for this post comes from a really amazing book I'm reading - A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul E Miller

If I describe what I mean by "going through a desert", you've probably been there. Deserts are those dry, barren places in life where we feel we are facing the same constant struggles. There seems to be no relief from the struggle in terms of desires being fulfilled, nor does there seem to be respite in learning to tame or redirect our desires. And so we find ourselves in this place where we feel trapped: unable to move forward, unable to stop wanting to move forward.

I've been in a desert in one area of my life recently. And if I'm honest, I have to admit that I'm still there. I feel like I don't even want to talk about the struggle any more because I've hashed it out so many times that there's nothing new to add in regard to my struggling. I've begged God to just take it away... why? Because I feel weak.

In fact, I can remember avidly the most recent conversation I had with God: "God, I've got so many things in life that are exciting and going well. I hate this struggle because it makes me feel weak... and I shouldn't feel weak. I have no reason to feel weak."

And God said, "exactly."

He brings us through these deserts to teach us to lean on Him, to depend on Him and to surrender to Him.

For the last year of my life, I've viewed God through the Santa Claus lens: he works everything out for my good. I can even quote Bible verses that suggest that God's up there pulling the strings so that things will go my way. I can view setbacks as God working out a better plan for my life.

And I do believe that God is in control.

However, I don't think that God's ultimate plan for my life is focused around me becoming CEO of a Fortune 500 company or having a house in the suburbs with a golden retriever and 2.4 kids. In fact, I don't think God's ultimate plan for my life involves anything on this earth at all. God's desire for me is to draw me closer to Him - to have a relationship with Him. And when things start going our way, it's easy to forget about Him and start to think that things are going my way because I've worked hard and I deserve them.

God uses the deserts to remind us what really matters. He uses the deserts to remind us that the only thing that will ultimately fulfill us is Him.

And in that way, deserts are the ultimate blessing.