Randy Wray’s Blog

God does great things in dry places. I know it sounds odd but some of God’s best work happens in dry valleys filled with dry bones! Think about the many ways in which God used desolate places. He prepared the Israelites to be His people. He prepared John to speak His message. He prepared Jesus to live His message.

Given the choice we would all probably avoid the desert. Given the choice we would choose the lush garden. Lot chose the lush valley and look how that turned out! Adam and Eve lived in a lush garden and look how that turned out!

Jesus expected temptation in the wilderness. I wonder if Jesus expected or was surprised by temptation in the garden of Gethsemane? After a few hours in the Garden Jesus certainly recognized the tempter and warned his disciples to keep vigilant.

Why choose the dry wilderness over the lush garden? In the lush garden we drop our guard and are more vulnerable to attack. In the desert, in a hostile climate - when adequately prepared - we are stronger to face the attack for we expect the onslaught.

Doesn’t it make sense? The same Lord who calls the first to be last and the last to be first, who says to be great you have to be humble, waits expectantly in the dry places of your life for you. To experience a “time of refreshing” it is often necessary to experience a time of conviction, a time of repentance.

Yes, we are not always the spiritual people we need to be. Yes, we have not yet reached that point in our journey when we completely behave like Christ. Yes, at times our spiritual life is one parched place. But yes, that’s ok!

The problem is not that we struggle spiritually. The problem is we try to hide the reality of our struggle! It is in our weariness, it is in our struggle that we most need a community of faith. It is in our weariness, it is in our struggle that we most need to stay close to God.

David said it best while in the desert of Judah:

God, you are my God. I search for you. I thirst for you like someone in a dry, empty land where there is no water. I have seen you in the Temple and have seen your strength and glory. Because your love is better than life, I will praise you. I will praise you as long as I live. I will lift up my hands in prayer to your name. I will be content as if I had eaten the best foods. My lips will sing, and my mouth will praise you. I remember you while I’m lying in bed; I think about you through the night. You are my help. Because of your protection, I sing. I stay close to you; you support me with your right hand. Psalm 63:1-8 (NCV)

Don’t avoid the dry places. Don’t be embarrased or ashamed. Don’t forget that God will meet you there.