The Table in the Wilderness--part 1

For the past few months, God's been pressing me with the concept of wilderness seasons...and the deeper I've looked into the Word and what God says about these dry times of life, my mind has been absolutely blown. This began as a vision that the Lord gave me about a dinner for the ladies in my small group at church.  All I could see in my mind was a rustic, woodland table with lots of greenery, vines, pine cones, and natural elements--possibly the culmination of way too much time looking at pretty things on Pinterest.  But then I found this verse:  "They spoke against God, saying, 'Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?'" (Psalm 78:19) I was intrigued.  I had to know more about this table.

This verse was referring to the Israelites and the time they physically spent in the wilderness after God delivered them from slavery in Egypt.  They had become weary in their wandering, and longed for something more.  I could identify.  I have spent a lot of time lost in the vast, dry desert, too.  

Can you relate?  I think we all spend time in the "wilderness", each in our own ways.  Times of isolation and loneliness.   Wandering and waiting for direction.  Dry and thirsty, you realize that this world does not satisfy and you are yearning for something more.  When you come to the end of yourself and your resources.  When you find yourself desperate for answers.   It might feel like you’ve taken a wrong turn and find yourself wondering “how in the world did I get here?”  Maybe you have had your fill of this world and are hungry for more of Jesus.  Or maybe you’re just plain angry.  You’ve questioned God’s nearness to you, wondering if he has turned a blind eye to your circumstances or your need.  Or maybe you are so tired that can’t even think straight enough to figure it all out. 

Wilderness seasons might be caused by a crisis in your life.  Cancer.  Illness.  Death.  An accident.  Surgery.  Disability.  Divorce.  Job loss.  Marriage struggles.  Family conflict.  Violence, abuse.  Addiction.  Can’t pay the bills.  Miscarriage.  Infertility.

Wilderness seasons might be caused by something less serious, but still isolating.  Having young children, or many young children.  Navigating through the adoption process.  Sleep deprivation.  Moving to a new city.  Starting a new job.  Deployment.  Depression.  Loneliness.  Arguing children.  Disobedient children.  Busy schedule, no time to get anything done.  For me, it's even been something as ridiculous as piles of dirty laundry and hundreds of mismatched socks...I literally feel as if I'm drowning in them at times.  Can I get an amen?!

Regardless of your situation, you might have felt like David, when he wrote:  “God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.” Psalm 63:1 (written when he was literally in the wilderness of Judah, tending sheep)

We all have wilderness seasons, but for each person, the journey is different. The desert is vast and the desert is dry.   At one time or another, we have all walked through it and made our own tracks in the sand.  

But I have some good news for you in all of this:  God has a purpose for it.  As difficult as these seasons are, He intends to bring something beautiful from it.  He has proved this to be true time and time again in scripture.  And He doesn't just let us wander aimlessly alone--He invites us to meet with Him at the table.

This weekend, my dream of the Table in the Wilderness dinner became a reality, just as God had shown me.  It was a beautiful evening spent around the table with sweet friends.  I want to invite you to pull up a chair and be encouraged as I share the message that God has for all of us about the wilderness and the table He provides for us there.   I hope you will meet me back here each day for a little bit more of this amazing story.  

He turns a desert into a pool of water, dry land into springs of water. 

He causes the hungry to settle there, and He blesses them.  

Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the Lord’s acts of faithful love.

(from Psalm 107)