Wandering in the Desert

Wandering in the Desert

“He found him in a desert land and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” Deuteronomy 32:10 ESV

“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.” Leanne Schulze

The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years! I’ve been tempted to think they were slow learners until I noticed my own 40 years (give or take) of wandering. There are many lessons I’ve learned but some of them didn’t “take” for a year or more. Is it the mind panicking? Is it the voice that says, “You’ll never make it?” Is it fear of the unknown or even worse, the known? Our minds can become a “howling waste of wilderness.”

And leads to destructive impulses. I have always struggled with a very impulsive nature. “I jump in where angels fear to tread.” Not counting the cost. No waiting with a prayer. No fellow counselors. And wham! I’m at the bottom of a hole and still digging.

Good old Magical Thinking.

Addictions may take a long time with wandering in and out and back and forth of true recovery.

Healing from trauma may take a long time with wandering into denial of the truth.

Grief may last a very long time. Wandering in isolation, perhaps, or thinking life will be the same as it was when the deceased was alive.

Family and career progress may take a long time. Wandering in the past and future with anxiety without today’s efforts, plans and persistence or we may give up too soon.

Paying off debt can seem endless. Rationalizations and excuses may cause wandering into more shopping for things we don’t really want for a jolt of “happiness” which fades with the bill.

Silence the mind. Know that the Father cares for you as the apple of His eye. Silence the doubts and fears and let the Father’s love into your heart with thankfulness for what we have today. The only way to silence the mind is to live now–today. The past is gone. The future isn’t here. But the good news is our Father forgave the past, He’s with you now, and He’s in your future.

Musings

Fears, stubbornness, lack of gratitude and lack of faith will always get in the way of our progress and the Father’s good plans for us. His plans are not to harm us but to prosper us and give us hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Oh! How we wish we lived in a fairy tale where the prince kisses the princess, magic wands dispel problems in an instant and we’re fixed by wishing on a star. But that’s not how it is here on Earth where the Accuser rules.

But You care for us in this desert wasteland with love, protection and wisdom. The Accuser must leave us because You are with us. And with thanks, we continue to grow into Your vision, plan and glory.

Amen.