In the late 1970’s, when I was in my reckless youth, I was on a camping tour of the Outback of Australia.
The highlight of being in what is known as THE RED CENTRE was a climb of Uluru, Ayers Rock. Uluru, (to give it its proper name) is a huge monolith of sandstone that rises 1.6 Kilometres from the desert floor and is around 500 kilometres from the nearest town of Alice Springs.
Back in the 1970’s the Australian Government had given permission allowing the rock to be climbed. It is with some relief to note that today, in consultation with the local Aboriginal people of the area, respect for this site is now paramount and climbing is no longer a tourist option.
We began our ascent of the rock in the pre-dawn dark, about 5 am, when the temperature was cool. The first part of the climb was incredibly steep and quite dangerous, and chains had been installed to aid climbers.
The view as dawn broke over the desert, was nothing short of spectacular, but the temperature rose quickly, and in no time, it was in excess of 30 degrees.
On the top of the rock was a series of little ridges, or channels. But the one thing I was NOT expecting to see were pools of water scattered across the surface, filling any dip or hollow. How and why, there were pools of water on the top of the Rock was a mystery, after all, the Rock was in a desert, where searing heat would evaporate any moisture very quickly. In the pools of water, LIFE existed. In fact, some in the group I was with, declared they detected fish swimming, but I’m afraid I could not verify that. There certainly was, however, other forms of life moving in the pools, and disturbing the water. And all of this….ON TOP OF A ROCK,IN A DESERT!
Spiritually speaking deserts are places that allow reflective opportunities, for encounters with God, that can not take place anywhere else. Often, in a desert, we feel disconnected, alone, and sometimes as though all life has been sucked out of us. Like the environment around us, we are dry, barren, desiccated, and empty. We can be at the end of ourselves……Sometimes we can be in a desert for a long time…. the children of Israel were in one for 40 years!
There are many reasons why we can find ourselves in a desert. Sometimes it is necessary for God to do some deep work in us. Other times it is because we need to re evaluate something, put something right, change a way of thinking or practising, allow a wound to be opened so healing can begin, or it’s a place to be convicted, a place to repent, a place to reconnect, or a place of being encouraged, restored, and put back together.
What the most important thing to know, is, that whatever your desert experience is about, you are not alone. You are not trudging through the sand by yourself. When you lift your eyes off the desert sand, you will see pockets of water where you least expect to see them. Water is life. Water is promise. Water lets you know God is with you. Any desert dweller will tell you, there is TRANSFORMATIVE. power in water on the desert.
Isaiah 35:6 (The Message)
“Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain,”
The prophet Isaiah is speaking of salvation in creational terms……that desolate, dry places will be transformed into paradise.
Just as a desolate, dry soul will be transformed into wholeness of life. Your soul, in your desert experience will be recreated, by the Creator who walks with you, guiding you from oases to oases, putting His life into each step of your journey. You are transformed. God’s business is all about redemption and restoration. He does not take you apart to leave you broken and in pieces. He takes you apart to restore you to wholeness. That you may live in completeness with Him, bringing joy and delight to His heart.
If you are having a desert experience, don’t become bogged in the sand, look for pools of water, oases. You will find them EXACTLY where God has placed them, for you to wallow in as you learn, grow, and change, according to His will and plan for you.
Don’t allow anyone or anything tell you what your desert SHOULD be, instead allow yourself to be surprised at what God has for you and you will find water where you never thought it possible.
It is God’s promise that He journeys with you.
Carole