Paul: Desert DaysSample

Lessons from the Desert

The desert is not a place that most of us willingly choose to go, yet it is there that we learn some of life’s most important lessons. We learn, for example, that the desert pushes us from self to service. It strips away our pretensions and illusions of control and reminds us that we are here to serve a higher purpose.

The apostle Paul knew this lesson well. He had been climbing the ladder of Judaism, achieving great success and respect among his peers. He was a Pharisee, zealous for the faith. He had accomplished far more than his contemporaries. But he had a dramatic encounter with Christ, and everything changed. Paul was blinded and led by the hand into the city, where he fasted and prayed for three days. It was a desert experience, a time of stripping away his self-sufficiency and self-importance. He immediately became an evangelist, traveling from town to town, facing life-threatening situations and persecution, all because he believed in the power of the gospel to transform lives. The desert had changed him from selfishness to service, and he was willing to risk everything for Christ’s sake.

The desert teaches us more than just the lesson of service. It also teaches us to trust in God’s power, not our own. We live in a world that values self-reliance, which tells us we can do anything we set our minds to if we work hard enough. In contrast, the desert reminds us that some things are beyond our control and that some problems are too big for us to fix. When we trust in God’s power, to lean on Him for strength and guidance, we learn to labor and struggle with all of His energy that works so powerfully within us. We learn to lay our burdens before Him and ask for His help, knowing that He can do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.

So, if you find yourself in a desert place today, I challenge you to embrace the lessons the desert has to teach you. Take a moment to reflect on your life and purpose. Ask yourself: Am I living for myself or something greater? Am I relying on my strength or God’s power? Am I willing to serve Him, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable?

The desert can be a place of transformation, a place where you can discover your true purpose and potential. May you find the courage and strength to shift from self to service and trust in God’s power to guide and sustain you. May you be a source of blessing and hope to those around you. May your journey through the desert lead you to a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God.