4 Truths for Hope in the Desert

Friday, August 7th, 2015     by Sherry Carter     21 Comments
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever 
you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will  
not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, 
“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” Genesis 28:15-16
Jacob found himself in the desert. I’m sure he settled down for the night near an oasis or a well as a source of water. He was in the middle of nowhere, alone, with a stone for his pillow. I’m sure he was afraid and unsure about what tomorrow held. Jacob needed more that water to drink, he needed the refreshing feeling of hope.

God stepped into the wilderness to reassure Jacob and He comes to us when we feel lost in the desert of our circumstances. We desperately need hope when we’re surrounded by loneliness, pain, or loss. We need water in the desert. And to us the Lord says:

1. I am with you. A few years ago, God moved me from Houston to the desert of west Texas. I wasted precious time demanding that He take me back home. I felt like God had abandoned me. Slowly, He taught me that home isn’t a place. Home is where loved ones are. Home is in His presence. It took me a while to become aware of God’s voice when He said, “I am here.” This is a promise we can cling to: He is with us.
2. I will watch over you. “Don’t you care? How can you do that to me?” It’s hard to believe that God watches over us when our lives are falling apart. When I was laid off a year after I lost my Mom to cancer, I couldn’t believe He’d take my job away. But, as I look back, I see that He saved my life. I was exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically. I couldn’t see that I was steps away from collapse, but God was watching over me. Sometimes we can only see His love and care from the other side of the valley.

3. I will bring you back to this land. No one wants to dwell in sorrow, frustration, or despair. I’ve sat in many a pit, losing all hope that things would ever change. We might wonder if life will ever be normal again. But God never leaves us where we are. He reaches out to take our hands and to lead us back to peace and joy.

4. What I have promised you. Where I stumble is in a correct definition of what God has promised me. I want to be delivered from difficulties. Better yet, I don’t want to experience them at all. But God’s promises are so much better than that: His presence, His love, His work to restore us. These are the promises that sustain us.

When Jacob woke up, his circumstances hadn’t changed. He was still out in the middle of nowhere. But one thing had changed: He knew God was with him.

Our circumstances might not change, but God’s promises can lift us up out of fear or despair. We can feel His presence and be filled with hope and strength. Our worlds might be shaking but God’s promises are our sure foundation.

How have God’s promises provided stability during difficult circumstances?

Photo credits: Oasis: Google image,  Desert flower

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21 Comments

    The Conversation

  1. Leigh Powers says:
    August 8, 2015 at 12:27 am

    I love Jacob's story! Thanks for the reminder that God is always with us!

    Reply
  2. Ariëlla says:
    August 8, 2015 at 9:08 am

    A very nice blog. Yes, I have experienced it as well. God was in my desert. And he gave refreshing oases. He was there. He was in the dark and difficult periods in our family. Thanks for your posting about Jacobs desert-period.

    Reply
    • sherryjcarter says:
      September 8, 2015 at 8:56 pm

      Sorry I'm so late in replying, Ariella. I've been on the road and didn't keep up as well as I should have.
      God has always been in my desert – how would we make it without Him? Thanks for dropping by!

      Reply
  3. Caroline says:
    August 9, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    Beautiful, and oh, so true, Sherry! Love this post. If only we could learn to trust God that he does know best!

    Reply
    • sherryjcarter says:
      September 8, 2015 at 8:58 pm

      Sorry I'm so late in replying, Carole. I've been on the road and didn't keep up as well as I should have.
      God does know best, even when we can't see it. Thanks for commenting, sweet friend!

      Reply
  4. sherryjcarter says:
    August 10, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    I do need to learn that, Carole. Thankfully, God is full of love and grace.

    Reply
  5. Walter Kahler says:
    August 10, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    I loved reading about the way God has healed you Sherry. God never puts too much on us even though we may feel He does. Grief is tough and when I lost my Dad God pulled me through. Thanks for sharing your difficulties and the way faith has drawn you closer to God. I too struggle and have found the same spiritual strength from our Father. May Christ's peace continue to radiate from your spirit.

    Reply
    • sherryjcarter says:
      September 8, 2015 at 9:02 pm

      Sorry I'm so late in replying, Walter. I've been on the road and didn't keep up as well as I should have.
      God is the only source of strength and light in dark days. Just like you, God has helped me through some very hard times. We would be lost without Him.
      Thanks for stopping by, Walter!

      Reply
  6. Sherice Blair says:
    August 10, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    Sherry, this is the right post at the right time. Thank you!!!

    Reply
  7. Mary Collins says:
    August 11, 2015 at 12:10 am

    I've been standing in God's promises for some financial problems that I am going through and He has been faithful. Although at times I have been afraid, He has not failed me.

    Reply
  8. Katy Kauffman says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:33 am

    I believe His promises help us to keep walking forward with Him, even when we don't know how things will turn out. We can count on what He has said, because He is trustworthy. Thank you for your post and for breaking down the Bible verse like that.

    Reply
    • sherryjcarter says:
      September 8, 2015 at 9:10 pm

      Sorry I'm so late in replying, Katy. I've been on the road and didn't keep up as well as I should have.
      God is trustworthy and His Word is our foundation, firm and true. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  9. Emmeline Louise Cox says:
    August 11, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    Thank you for this encouragement. Sometimes, this is exactly what we need to hear to be lifted up in our circumstances. When I am stressed, I seek out the encouragement of the Word and of fellow Christians, like this, and it really helps. Thank you,

    Reply
    • sherryjcarter says:
      September 8, 2015 at 9:32 pm

      Sorry I'm so late in replying, Emmeline. I've been on the road and didn't keep up as well as I should have.
      I'm glad that God used these words to bless you. Thank you for commenting!

      Reply
  10. Melanie Pickett says:
    August 11, 2015 at 10:03 pm

    Really nice words, Sherry. God promises, as you said, never to leave us. Thank you for this encouragement!

    Reply
    • sherryjcarter says:
      September 8, 2015 at 9:11 pm

      Sorry I'm so late in replying, Melanie. I've been on the road and didn't keep up as well as I should have.
      God's promises are our firm foundation! Thanks for dropping in, Melanie.

      Reply
  11. Ariëlla says:
    August 13, 2015 at 6:18 am

    Thank you so much for this hopeful desert post. Let us pray and let us trust. God's promises canindeed lift us up out of fear or despair. Thanks for that reminder.

    Reply