No, I’m not talking about a weekend in Las Vegas or a vacation in Palm Springs. I’m speaking about something much more significant and life changing. In last week’s sermon our pastor spoke of the challenging times in our lives. The times when things aren’t going according to plan – our plan of course. You’re experiencing roadblock after roadblock. You’re facing a serious health challenge, major disappointments, bad surprises. He referred to this as a desert experience, similar to the one the Israelites faced when they wandered in the desert for forty years. He then stated that humans are always either coming out of a desert experience, in the middle of one or about to enter one. You might say these three circumstances make up the human condition.
Not a feel good lesson. I walked out of there thinking, I’m not currently in a desert experience and haven’t just come out of one, so that must mean one is ahead of me. I had to admit that I haven’t been in one for quite some time. I count myself fortunate.
Sure enough, Sunday, in the middle of the night, I was awakened out of a sound sleep by a strong feeling of nausea. This is highly unusual for me as it has been many years since I’ve had such symptoms. Use your imagination for how I spent the remainder of the night. All day Monday I felt on the verge, even though the main symptoms had passed. I didn’t eat for 40 hours! It took several days to feel confident enough to eat normal food. Miserable, right? No question. But desert experience? Not much of one.
Then other things started happening and now I find myself fully in the desert. What’s next? What can you do when things go south? 1) Pray. That’s always a good choice. Asking God for help allows you to feel that you’re not in this by yourself which is incredibly comforting. It also gives you hope that a solution is out there and available to you. 2) Give thanks for what you have and for the blessings that have been given to you in prior desert experiences. Being grateful for all the good in your life not only pleases God but changes your perspective from “Poor me. Life is miserable,” to “But I still have (fill in the blank) and (fill in the blank) and people who love me. Maybe I’ll get through this soon.” The good news is that the desert experience isn’t eternal. It has an end. You don’t stay in it forever. 3) Lean on friends and family. I’m a big proponent of group therapy because it helps you to realize others have the same or similar problems as you do. You were not singled out for this challenging time or this misery. We have all been in the desert, more than once. Use the support systems that you have. It can lessen your load significantly.
This is life. It’s what we signed up for. It means good times, neutral times and challenging times. Take solace in knowing that you won’t be there forever. Trust God. Have faith that you will endure. Know that your life will be good again. Take a deep breath and give thanks. :))