Your ticket out of the desert

The desert.

That familiar hot and dry and endless place, where the winds howl to the world about the depth of my worthlessness and tear at the shreds of my self-esteem.

Where the flying grains of sand sting at my conscience and blind me to my gifts.

I have been there and done that, and for some reason, continue to vacation there on too regular a basis.

However, I have found my ticket out, and I am a bit embarrassed at how it has been waiting there for me all along.

When I am at my most stretched and empty and lost, when I find most anything will bring my teardrops to the surface, I have to stop running and reaching and frantically searching.

I just have to pray.

To. Be. Still.

To be refilled.

To just be quiet and listen.

To gain much needed wisdom and peace.

That means letting go and letting Him lead so that I can follow.

Just this week I went to my knees again and asked forgiveness for my foolish behavior, for my dithering and lack of direction.

Do you find yourself there too, replaying that same tune for those same old behaviors that keep you stuck in the wilderness?

I don’t know about you, but I feel like an awfully slow learner sometimes.

As always, grace was mine just for the asking.

Without hesitation or reservation.

Without threats of This is the last time, young lady!

Again, I promised to follow, fully and whole-heartedly.

After all, Follow is the word He gave me this year.

And this time, I shall.

Fully, all in, all revved up with some exciting place to go.

Even though I can’t see the path ahead, I know that He can.

And there is a great peace there, knowing He is my guide.

And when the day comes that I wander off into the endless sands again, I know He will help me find my way back, with good humor, love and his bottomless well of forgiveness.

I am thankful today for Kathi Lipp’s post How to Get Out of the Desert Place for my inspiration, as well as my daily devotional, Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Young, which I quote below:

I am leading you, step by step, through your life. Hold My hand in trusting dependence, letting Me guide you through this day. Your future looks uncertain and feels flimsy-even precarious. That is how it should be.

Whenever you find yourself worrying about the future, repent and return to Me. I will show you the next step forward, and the one after that, and the one after that. Relax and enjoy the journey in My Presence, trusting Me to open up the way before you as you go.

Challenge for today: How do you find your way out of those dry and desolate spaces, or better still, how do you keep from wandering so far off the path? Please share and help us help one another!

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Image Credit-Emilia Tjernström