Exhausted, frustrated, disappointed and depressed? I can relate....been there-done that!. Let me assure you that I have experienced a "dry season"...a season of desolation. It is no fun. During my time in the desert (I will use the words desert and dry season interchangeably because, to me, they are the same) I was convinced that God had deserted me in the desert! Notice the word "desert" in the word "deserted?" Of course to believe this was to believe a lie- God NEVER leaves us! However, when we go through dry season and we experience drought,, barrenness and yes, , even, famine, we are often vulnerable to the seductive lies of the enemy that say:- You have done something wrong and God is punishing you by causing you to experience this dry season.
- He led you to the desert and now He has deserted you. You cannot trust Him!
- You are in a completely hopeless situation!
- Your circumstances will never change!
- Shame on you! You've been in the desert too long! You should have been out by now!
Believer, when you are in a place of hopelessness every conversation will have a negative conclusion with an exclamation point! In other words, crisis abounds during a dry season. Let's face it- we've all experienced a dry season. But why do they occur?
The Reason For Dry Season
If you recall, God told Israel that the way He chose to lead them (through the desert) was "...not too difficult" for them (see Deut 30:11). Yes, dear reader, God chose to lead his children into the desert. The reason why is this- he was protecting them from their enemies. Plus, and this is equally as important, He desired to use the desert as a catalyst that would motivate his people to look to Him for all of their needs. His heart was to win over their hearts. If you recall, Israel was continually faced with a need for a miracle while in the wilderness. God desired that they look to Him, in faith, for the solution rather than murmur and complain. Ouch! How often have we murmured and complained and all the while God is just waiting for us to pray and ask Him for the solution. Yet- our mouths abort the blessings!
If you recall, God told Israel that the way He chose to lead them (through the desert) was "...not too difficult" for them (see Deut 30:11). Yes, dear reader, God chose to lead his children into the desert. The reason why is this- he was protecting them from their enemies. Plus, and this is equally as important, He desired to use the desert as a catalyst that would motivate his people to look to Him for all of their needs. His heart was to win over their hearts. If you recall, Israel was continually faced with a need for a miracle while in the wilderness. God desired that they look to Him, in faith, for the solution rather than murmur and complain. Ouch! How often have we murmured and complained and all the while God is just waiting for us to pray and ask Him for the solution. Yet- our mouths abort the blessings!
Believer, a desert experience is not a punishment from God. It's unfortunate that many people have preached this incorrectly. Let me be blunt; God is not mad at us-He is mad about us! His love for us is never-ending. Ephesians 3:18 encourages us to "...grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." (NIV).
Precious believer, I believe that many times God leads us to a desert experience to draw us unto Himself. A desert experience is just another way to explain a dry season. In the natural we experience four seasons-spring, summer, fall and winter. I love the spring whenever the trees begin to bud, flowers bloom and hummingbirds buzz around North-Central Texas (where I live!). Summer in Texas is very hot. Many times we experience drought because of lack of rain. I suppose that would be a dry season- when there is no rain!