For Judith…I stand alongside you today!
Please take time to read today’s scripture focus, Acts 8:26-29.
“The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’” (Acts 8:29).
One of the gifts of walking in barren seasons is the pleasure of God’s voice. I so often miss it in my chaos and my crowded. But when I am alone and feeling the confinement of my anonymity, my heart is tender and ripe for the hearing. I think this is why I am sometimes led to walk a desert’s heat. God is ever speaking, and my penchant for the same often precludes my listening to him. Thus, a desert sometimes becomes my consecrated necessary.
God shapes our lives in the desert. Oswald Chambers speaks to such a shaping:
“If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all noble things are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but the difficulty of it does not make us faint and cave in, it rouses us up to overcome. Do we so appreciate the marvelous salvation of Jesus Christ that we are our utmost for His highest? … Thank God He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a glad thing, but it is also a heroic, holy thing. It tests us for all we are worth.”[i]
Noble. Heroic and holy. An utmost kind of living that requires our refinement through the gloriously difficult. Sounds like Mr. Chambers knew something of a desert dwelling and finding its sacred consecration within. I want an “utmost” life lived to the uttermost, and if a desert’s necessary becomes God’s way of accomplishing his ultimate for me, then I am prepared for its embrace.
I am at a place of contentment in my life right now, not feeling the particulars of a desert’s scorch; still and yet, I am reminded that many of you are walking its heat. I have heard from some of you. I have seen you in my community and in the church pews. I have watched you pilgrim through your daily and your constant, and I am moved by your faithfulness to keep a forward focus even though a backward glance is all so tempting.
Through you, God has issued me an invitation to walk a desert road. He has clearly communicated the need, and compelled by his love, I willingly come. Not to instruct or to correct or to whisk you away from your heated necessary, but simply to come alongside and to walk the road with you. There is refinement for the both of us in the process.
Philip came alongside. He took to the road with very little knowledge about its consecrated purpose. He simply listened to the words of God’s angel and to the promptings of God’s Spirit.
Go to the desert road.
Go to that chariot and stay near it.
Herein lies one of the glorious truths of the desert.
Deserts are full of fellow travelers.
Our self-indulgence allows us to reason that we go it alone…that there is no one else who shares the sandals of our hard. But the reality of our pilgrim identities paints a truer picture. The desert is replete with a parched people. Unfortunately, the laboring and tearing of our own thirst rarely permits us the privilege of noticing another’s.
But occasionally there comes a friend, perhaps even a stranger who is able to look past self-interest in order to preserve the sacred interest of God.
Philip was one of those people. A stranger in a strange land living out what, some would say, was a strange and mysterious calling. From table service to chariot chasing, indeed, Philip was no ordinary servant. He was extraordinary in his service to God and to mankind.
At the Spirit’s prompting, he took the time to embrace a man that was rarely embraced.
An Ethiopian—a man of ethnic difference.
A lesser man some would say because of his eunuch’s status.
An unclean and fully blemished man.
A Gentile.
A foreigner.
A wealthy man.
A stranger to the truth, and yet…
A seeker of the Truth…of the one God who captured his worship and who sent him on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in search of that Truth.
I don’t know what he found while in Jerusalem, but I do know what he found while in the desert.
He found a friend named Philip. And better still…
He found a Savior named Jesus.
He found the Truth, simply because of one man’s obedience to walk a desert’s heat and to maintain an outward focus so that God’s consecrated purpose could be birthed within sinner and saint, alike. Not a bad trade for a desert’s pilgrimage. In fact, a very good exchange worth every blistered tear and parched longing.
Purpose in the desert. Yours and mine and theirs. We all walk its heat for different reasons. Our thirsts are uniquely crafted by God’s consecrated will for humanity. A noble, heroic, holy, and perfect will that leads to a perfect end—an utmost kind of end where eunuchs and Gentiles, foreigners and strangers, family and friends, will gather to worship the one God who authors us all.
Home is where we are headed. It is not far, friends. It is just on the other side of this desert. On the other side of a sometimes, hard obedience. On the other side of steps that are gloriously difficult but that are willing, nonetheless, to keep an outward focus.
We are moving through these sands to get to God’s unshakable mountain. Better to get there with a few fellow pilgrims by our sides, and so I pray…
Carry me through the desert, Lord, so that I may reach the shores of an unshakeable faith. Direct my steps and lead me to those who will best pilgrim the journey with me…both for my sake and for theirs. Yoke us as one to your yoke so that, together, we can find our consecrated purpose for the journey. I thank you for the fellow sojourners whom you have placed on my road. Give me the ears to hear your voice, the courage to obey your voice, and the faith to walk toward your voice even when I cannot see through these uncertain sands. Bring me to my noble and utmost end. Amen.
[i] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Uhrichsville: Barbour Publishing, 1935), July 7th.
[ii]Sara Groves, I Saw What I Saw from “Tell Me What You Know” (Nashville: RBI Productions, 2007).
Copyright © July 2008 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved.
As a way of closing today, I want to share with you a song by Sara Groves that speaks the story of a desert road. For those of you who are walking one right now, I echo her heart when I say…
“Your pain has changed me. Your dream inspires. Your face a memory. Your hope a fire. Your courage asks me what I’m afraid of. Your courage asks me what I am made of and what I know of love.”[i]
good post, Elaine!
God is going to have to help me a little here…..I had a whole long comment on this post and ZAP! gone.
I enjoyed this series.
I love that God often does the miraculous stuff during and at the end of our trips in the desert.
How it must have thrilled Phillips heart to see God using him out in the middle of nowhere.
I would say I am in the dessert at this time. But I know without a doubt it is a teaching period.
And although I look forward to getting out…I also look forward to what I will take out with me that no one can take from me.
And I look forward to the miraculous things that are coming.
Good stuff here. This would be great meat for a group discussion.
Great post Elaine. Your words are truth truth truth. It is in the desert that I learned to have faith, it’s in the desert that I learned obedience, in the desert I learned to pray.
You’re right, the desert experience should not be dreaded. It is a place to draw nearer to Him.
..and for that I am so thankful.
Elaine,
I feel like i’m in a dessert at times, and I know that is when God is close and her wants me to learn something… Thank you for this post, you are in my prayers…
Connie
GBU
God definitely meets us in our desert, just as Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch. The situation may seem hopeless, but we never know when God will send a “Philip” to meet us at our point of need and speak God’s Word over us. Maybe we could be a “Philip” in someone elses desert today.
Thanks for sharing the Oswald Chambers quotes – I always think of your writing in a similar fashion – calling me to go deeper and respond.
Walking with Him,
Joy
You had me from these very first words:
“One of the gifts of walking in barren seasons is the pleasure of God’s voice.”
So true, dear friend. My desert times have been some of the sweetest most tender moments with my God. He has held me tenderly in His arms and held me close when I had not the power to hold my head up on my own. This is the substance of intimacy.
I’m lovin’ this study! You bless!
Elaine, I’m Amy’s Mom – IN MY LIFE – I saw that you had posted on her blog asking how she was – please pray for my baby girl – she’s having a really rough time of it! She can’t get out of bed except to go to the bathroom for a few weeks. She’s really feeling down. Email me at [email protected].
Thanks,
Sandra 🙂
I have found that God often takes me to knew heights with Him when I walk slowly through the desert. It is not anything to fear, but truly a place to draw near. I have always told my children to be blessed to know that God is taking you to a new place, to grow, be challenged for His next amazing plan for your life. I believe that every single day. Does not mean all is going to be easy, but at least I know God has a greater plan for my life. Thanks for your words today.
Thanks for commenting on my blog. I find that when God has something powerful to say to me it is often repeated many times in many ways until I see it clearly. Maybe God was using Oswald to speak to both of us at the same time. And how marvelous is our God that we should both receive a different lesson. You write beautifully and enjoyed walking in the desert with you. I’ve linked my blog to yours and will return often. It’s a wonderful thing to share this journey with so many faithful women.
God Bless!
Joan
As always, beautiful truth here!
I gave you a hug on my site today.
🙂
Wow! I’m not sure if tears are good for my keyboard, but what a great word…what a great video!
What a beautiful song! I teach history and political science at the local community college and the topic of genocide in Rwanda is always a topic that we cover. Thanks for sharing this video…it is powerful!
Prayers and Blessings,
Rebecca
“Stepping alongside another”…I like that and greatful indeed.
Great Series Elaine…
Your words are always so true and meaningful. I often find the desert to be the most productive place for me. I tend to seek the Lord more, look for His work, and cling a whole lot harder to Him. No wonder I find myself there so much.
Thanks so much for another awesome Word.
Lynn
I am always so thankful for the people God brings around when I’m in the midst of the desert drought. His messengers always bring refreshing words of hope and encouragement. Beautiful post, girl! Blessings.
Elaine,
When you started this series, I began to think about what you asked…when was the last time we met with God through our desert? Sounds strange, but I had to think about that for awhile. Once I realized the desert tends NOT to be my exception, but rather my rule, I hesistated to share that because the images my mind conjures when considering the desert (loneliness, extreme heat, etc.) are typically not true of my faith journey. After reading your post today, it all comes together. Despite some lengthy barren seasons, God has given me contenment because, like you, through those deserts, I’ve heard his voice much more clearly, I’ve felt his presence much more powerfully, and I’ve known the unmistakable peace that comes from His love and its assurances.
God knows me so well. He knows that I stay much closer to Him through the desert, thus my frequent and extended visit(s). You’re so right…the “gloriously difficult” Christian life DOES rouse the overcomer in us, and it draws us ever closer to Him. So grateful for fellow sojourners like you who bless and encourage and “come along side” on the road home.
Blessings, my friend.
WOW, what a powerful word! I can’t wait to read through all of this series. Love the video, too. It’s one of my favorite songs and makes me want to go to Ethiopia now to get our girls!
Praying for Judith.
I’ll be back soon!
Renee
This latest post alone is enough to affirm my deep felt belief that your words should be read by many more than see this blog. I am certain I am not alone in this.
To come alongside, “Not to instruct or to correct or to whisk you away from your heated necessary” is a gift to all who are called to endure in patience a particularly difficult season.
I will speak only for myself when I say there are times I would to God my journey was a different one. I see that path over there and long for the flowing milk and honey where there are no giants. Or rather, where the giants look more tame. Ah, foolish woman. In a saner hour I acknowledge all our sanctified journeys are peopled with ugly and powerful giants as well as milk and honey. I read in a favorite devotional that Israel didn’t see giants until they advanced forward. All they had to do to avoid them was turn back. How much better to stay on course, finish the race, obtain the prize and, in so doing, believe that somehow God uses it all to advance his kingdom. And along the way he brings family and friends to remind us we are chosen and we are loved in community. The community of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and each other. Amazing.
Elaine~
Another amazing post. It is so true…it’s in the desert places/times, that I truly see the hand of God.
The older I get, I’m (SLOWLY) learning/realizing that I do not need to dread the desert, but rather, chase after him LOOKING for his heart as I know he WILL lead me through it.
You truly bless me friend.
Kim~
First of all, let me say that I have taken note of the additions in your blog. I’ll keep watching for the “coming soon” entries for “About Elaine” and “Speaking”
And I guess “coming soon” is relative in time.
I join many others in walking the desert. I’m not sure that we will all know the reasons for walking in the desert. But one thing I did take note of was, “Home is where we are headed.” That spoke volumes to me. Completing the journey with strong faith is my desire.
I LOVE your prayer at the end of your post. I’m thankful for the friends along the way that God brings into our lives.
And I am blessed by all the beautiful things that you express through your post and comments to others.
Also, the song by Sara Groves certainly spoke to my heart. One of the things that was said, I have listened to a number of times, “We’ve done what we’ve done and we can’t erase it” For whatever time I have left in this life I want to so live that I would not want to erase it even if I could.
mary
Incredible…
That was my first time hearing that awesome song too, oh my!
Brought back memories of my first mission trip to Haiti. I’ll never forget on night a young girl standing by a bridge asked me to never forget her face.
I haven’t. What a great reminder.
Loved the quote by Oswald too.
Thanks again Elaine♥