New Beginnings: The Work Of The Holy SpiritSample

The Purpose of Desert Seasons 

We don’t often talk about desert seasons, yet they do come. It is our tendency to fight when they come because of the discomfort and pain they bring. These seasons have been described by some as ‘The Dark Night of the Soul’, ‘Stuck at the Wall’ or ‘Spiritual Crisis’. Avoiding this season and resisting within the season can cause catastrophic damage. However, if you willingly allow God’s leading into the desert place you will meet God there and He will begin a new and deeper work in our life.

Israel was led by God into the desert to be formed into a nation. Elijah in his deepest depression found God in the desert. Moses encountered God at the burning bush in the desert. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert. Luke 4:1-2 (NIV), “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil..."

If your read the whole account, Satan tempts Jesus in three areas: 1) Identity, 2) Value and 3) Purpose. The same areas we all struggle with. We often turn to created things to feed these legitimate desires. 

The purpose of the desert is to crucify the flesh so that we could place all our affection on God. In this way He becomes our source of identity, value, and purpose. Pete Scazzero puts it this way, “This is God’s way of rewiring and ‘purging our affections and passions’ that we might delight in His love and enter into a richer, fuller communion with Him.” 

This is why James says we should consider trials with joy! James 1:2-4 (NIV), “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Joy is not really an emotion. Happiness or sadness is an emotion. Joy is an enduring confidence in the character of God and that He will fulfill His promise of salvation.

God is interested in your and my maturity! He wants to finish the good work He started in us (Philippians 1:6); which is being transformed into the likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). His goal will always be to purify us, His Church.

Is COVID-19 something you are enduring, and getting through? Is it producing frustration and anger in you? Or are you allowing God to work out good in you? Would you let God strip away the unnecessary in your life so that you could love better? 

Application: In your prayer today, why not ask God to show you what He wants to do in you during this trail. Ask Him for assurance so that your joy may grow in this time. What is He asking you to let go of, or leave behind in this desert season so that you could be made complete, not lacking anything? Would you take a step toward God today and let go of that thing? Are you going to complain or would you cooperate with His leading in your life today?