Something, as a period of history, phase of existence, or locality, that is spiritually or intellectually barren.
Let's face it folks. Sometimes we can experience that spiritually barren phase of existence. The Christian walk is just that; a walk. It is not a sprint but a marathon. Like all marathon runners, we can grow weary. We can be in need of refreshing. The Book of Hebrews reminds us:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 1-3
God has a race marked out for you beloved. He knows that we
can easily grow weary and lose heart if we take our eyes off of the author and
perfecter of our faith. The world will throw one distraction after another at
you. The world wants your focus off of Jesus. That is how we lose heart. That
is how we grow weary in the marathon. That is how we can enter into a time of
spiritual barrenness. But God is saying here in the key verses, that he will
create rivers in the wasteland that we might find ourselves in. Note that He
does not say he will lead us to the rivers, but rather that He will create them. This implies that even in
places where the refreshing we need does not exist, God will supernaturally
step in and refresh us! When the Israelites needed food; God rained down manna
from heaven. When they needed water, God made it spring forth from a rock. When
you need the
Continuing in the key verses, we also see God assures us that He will make a pathway through the wilderness. Not only can we experience a time of spiritual barrenness but we also can simply lose our way in our walk. We can get lost. Maybe we get a medical report and lose sight of the Healer we have in God. Maybe we face financial difficulties and lose sight of the provider we have in God. Maybe we face relationship problems and lose sight of Jehovah Shalom; our peace. We start to rely upon our own strength or listen to the lies of the enemy or the schemes of the world. The Psalmist reminds us:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
In whatever trouble we find ourselves, God is our ever-present help. No matter how dense the wilderness may seem; how lost we may find ourselves God never leaves. What is the secret for when we find the paths before us leading us away from God?
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6
It is a process where we start to trust less in God and more on what we see or feel that can lead us astray. We can start to wander into the wilderness when we start to lean on our own understanding. When Peter stepped out of the boat he was able to walk on water because he trusted in the Lord with all of his heart. But once he leaned on his own understanding of how frightening the waves and the storm were around him he began to sink and despair. That is how we can be as well. We take our eyes off of God and onto our circumstances the strategy of the world and we begin to sink into our wilderness. Eventually, we can find ourselves lost. Not lost in terms of our salvation but rather, in the depth of our faith. But when we acknowledge God, He will make the paths before us straight. He will make that pathway through the wilderness for us. That pathway will always lead right back to Him.
Continuing in the key verses, the promise from
Almighty God to us today is that He is about to do something new in our lives!
God is not a stagnant God. He does not wish to see us stagnant either. The
Christian walk is not supposed to grow stale. Yet how many people often find
themselves feeling stuck in the spiritual mud? God always has a new level for
us to mature to. He always has a higher purpose to achieve. But we have to want
to pursue it. We have to seek it out. Look at the life of the Apostle Paul. He
was always seeking the next level in Christ that God had for him. No matter how
many times he found himself literally shipwrecked or spiritually downcast; his
focus was always on what God had for him to do next. He could have stopped
after the first missionary journey and been satisfied within himself for the job
he had done. He could have stagnated after the second missionary journey and
said that he had done enough. Even after the third missionary journey and his
imprisonment in
