The Desert
“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.”
— Hosea 2:1
Often, during times of suffering, the landscape of my soul feels desert-like—parched, barren, and lonely. Winds of angst whip and my clarity is obscured. Emotionally, I wander without purpose wondering how I lost my way. Where am I? Is God here? And the prevailing doubt that always follows me into the desert: Does He really love me?
Several years ago, while vacationing with a friend following a time of deep loneliness, I found myself in that emotional void. I let my guard down with God and repeated the question I’ve asked so many times: Do You really love me? Instead of the condemnation I half expected, I heard the gentle whisper of the Spirit in the depths of my soul. Look around you… I looked up from the book I’d been staring at and took in my surroundings—the stark beauty of the Arizona desert. Rock outcroppings jutted from the earth and cacti stood, arms raised heavenward, against the majestic backdrop of rugged mountains.
The grandeur of God’s creation was enough—a reminder not only of His power but of His love. His providence of beauty always speaks to my soul. Reassured, I whispered a prayer of thanksgiving and then returned my attention to the book on my lap. The first sentence I read caused my heart to stir. It was a scripture quotation from the book of Hosea: “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly.”
It is a moment I will remember all of my days… I looked from the book back to the desert landscape and I waited. I sensed God had more to say. He had wooed me—allured me—led me to this desert place both figuratively and literally. He would speak tenderly to me. And He did. The words of love and assurance the Spirit spoke to my soul that afternoon have never left me. They were words marked with love, mercy, and grace. God opened the floodgates of His love that afternoon and washed away my every doubt.
He is the Lover of our souls–the One who follows hard after us sometimes even leading us into the desert—barren terrain where we thirst for relief. He meets us there, arms outstretched, ready to quench our every need. We are His unfaithful bride wandering away from His love and He is our faithful, pursuing, and ever loving Groom.
