Have you ever been in the desert, spiritually speaking? The desert is the place where you have a hard time hearing or seeing God, and wonder if He even knows you are suffering.  It is a dry and lonely place.

I have been there. Maybe you have as well. Maybe the desert is the place you are calling “home” these days.  Recently, when I was in the desert, I camped out on the following passage. I hope this scripture brings you insight, encouragement, and steps towards healing.

“But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.  I will return her vineyard to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.” Hosea 2:14-15

To summarize, God will try everything to get us back when we wonder from Him. He leads us into the desert, where there is nothing, no distraction, where it is dry and we become thirsty.  The Lord then begins to quench our thirst as only He can. He speaks tenderly to us, and now are ears are open so we can hear His gentle whisper. God is the one who leads us to the desert, why, because He loves us so.    How sweet is this!  God is “wooing” us.    If that is not enough, He then proceeds to graphically explain He will restore us and change our times of trouble into days of hope. I love that visual. I am resting in that visual!

I am sorry it takes time in the desert to get my attention, but I am so thankful and humbled with excitement that God, our Lord, and Savior, wants me.

He continues in verse 16…”When that day comes,’ says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master.’

This verse implies that our relationship with God will be deep and personal; the kind of relationship He wants us to have now with Him. In other words, make Jesus personal. God wants nothing more than for us to come to Him just the way we are, and if we won’t come to Him, guess what, He isn’t giving up.  So why not take a trip into the desert and listen, rest, be restored, and let the Lord transform your Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.