How God Works Through Desert Experiences
By Mark Altrogge
God leads every believer into the desert at one time or another.
Well, maybe not every believer. I can’t give you a Bible verse that says that. But in over 30 years of pastoring, I’d say God leads most believers into the desert at one time or another.
Moses spent 40 years in the desert before God raised him up to lead Israel out of Egypt. As soon as God delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt, he took them into the desert. David did a lot of desert time hiding out from Saul before God made him king. And the Spirit drove Jesus into the desert after his baptism for 40 days.
Lots of circumstances can be “deserts.”
A prolonged sickness can be a desert. Moving to a new place or joining a new church where you don’t know anyone can be one. Being stuck in a miserable or boring job instead of the fulfilling career you had hoped for can be a desert. A rebellious child or an unbelieving spouse can be a desert.
When we’re in the desert, it can feel like God’s not doing anything. Or he’s set us aside. But God is always at work. He uses desert experiences in many ways, as we see in Dt. 8:2-6:
Deserts humble us
And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you (v 2)
Deserts reveal what is in our hearts
Testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. (v 2)
Deserts teach us to live by God’s Word
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (v 3)
Deserts teach us that God can provide for us in any circumstance.
Your clothing did not wear out on you, and your foot did not swell these forty years. (v 4)
Deserts teach us to fear and obey God
Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you. So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. (v 5-6)
When Moses, Israel, David, and Jesus were in the desert, God was preparing them for something greater. If you’re in the desert right now, know that God is at work in your life. Don’t despair. Trust God. He’s doing great things in you.
Mark Altrogge
Mark Altrogge is the original triple threat: singer, songwriter, pastor. He has been the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA for over 25 years, and is the author of many well known worship songs such as “I Stand In Awe”, and “In The Presence”. When not pastoring or writing songs, Mark can be found consuming vast quantities of coffee. Unfortunately, Mark is not particularly gifted in the area of athletics.
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