Deep Impact

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. (Psalms 42:7 ESV)

Have you ever found yourself in a place where it seems that you've lost sight of God? Where your life is ruined and there seems to be no answer or word from Heaven? And if there is it's no consolation to you because it something like this, "I see you in a desert"....
Psalms 42:2-3 ESV "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (3) My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, 'Where is your God?' "

I do find some comfort in the fact that I'm not alone. I see others like King David, Job and Joseph in this wilderness too. One thing is sure. This is a place of testing and refining.

There will be survivors and then there will be victors.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 ESV "If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire."

When in the wilderness it seems to me that the wise thing to do is to examine yourself and consider your steps that lead you there. Consider this, there are many paths that lead us into the deserts...

King David

David had two desert experiences in his life. The first was not his doing. King Saul's jealous rage drove David to flee into the wilderness. This is what I'll call the Desert of Persecution.

The second desert experience of David was a direct result of his own choice to sin against God. He took another man's wife and caused his death through a direct order. This is the Desert of Sin.

Job

Now Job's desert was a result of his faithfulness. This is the most oddest of all, but none the less, it's one we must admit to. God knew Job's faithfulness and used it to smack down Satan's arrogance. All the time Job is tested by Satan's jabs and accusations. Yet he remains steadfast, though deeply troubled. I'll call this the Desert of Steadfastness.

Joseph

The one that we all hate to hear about. It makes me cringe just thinking of the implications of Joseph's desert. The long endurance of the test of time, persecution, envy, misunderstanding, etc., etc. Joseph learned the lesson of longsuffering. A dream given, then lost, and then realized. This is the desert of Longsuffering.

We will all go through a desert, but we won't be left alone, though we may feel lonely. Consider your desert, weather it be the Desert of Persecution, of Sin, of Steadfastness, or the Desert of Longsuffering; consider. Consider the company of witnesses which have gone before you and their outcomes and rewards, and take peace in your piece of the Desert.

1 John 5:4 ESV "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."

-Selah