Living in the Desert

December 20, 2025 — Laura House

In speaking with a fellow bereaved mom yesterday, we talked about the fact that in our earthly lives, there are so many times that we feel like we are in the desert. When the kids were little, I remember them studying about the Sahara and spelling it “dessert.” That might not be such a bad place to be stuck in … but I mean desert. 

Perhaps you know the feeling? Your soul feels parched and weary, your body is exhausted, and you feel like God isn’t hearing your prayers. You know in your head that He is….but at the feeling level, it seems like you are alone. It feels like you’re in a dusty, dirty, dry place with a scorching hot sun and you forgot your water bottle. Longing for an oasis in the middle of the heat, you cry out to God, but you don’t receive any confirmation that He heard you.

After the loss of a loved one, most of us feel this way at some point. Grief is blinding. It obstructs our view and tries to convince us that we are alone. Understandably, there are many other times that feel like this too, because we live in a broken world. Until the Lord returns, there will continue to be hardships and, I believe, times in the desert. 

If you are wandering in the desert right now, here are some truths to remember. 

First, our feelings are certainly valid and important, but they aren’t always the facts. While you are in the desert, you may need to continually remind yourself of what is true. Grief, sorrow, physical illness, betrayal, estrangement, and other situations can overwhelm us to the point that we feel alone. But even though you may not “feel” God there, He is. He is holding you and will never leave you. Just as He delivered the Israelites from the land of Egypt, then provided for them during their time in the desert, He will rescue you and care for you. 

Also, He loves you more than you have the ability to even begin to comprehend. This fact astounds me every time I come face to face with it! The God of the universe, Creator of everything that has ever been, loves us with an “everlasting love” — so much so that He saved us from our sin and promised us eternity with Him. Throughout the Bible, we continually see God’s love for us, but one of my favorite passages is found in Romans 8:38-39 as Paul reflects on this truth. He writes, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Whether or not you’ve discovered this next point, it’s remarkable. Truthfully, there are some great benefits derived from those times in the desert. When you are trudging through it the first time, it might be hard to acknowledge. But after you’ve emerged on the other side, you can lean on that experience the next time. Inevitably, there will be another desert in your future. 

What are the benefits? Most notably, our time in the desert can be the catalyst for us to grow closer to the Lord in a way that would never have happened without the difficult trek in the sand. Without the distractions of life and constant activity, we have the opportunity to develop an intimacy with God that we’ve never known before. We are permanently changed. While plodding through the barren wasteland, it’s often hard to see, but on the other side, we can look back and identify so many truths. God held us and strengthened us. He never left us alone — He is always faithful and His promises are always true. He loves us and has a purpose for us, and He will guide us as we strive to fulfill that purpose.

As I was writing this post, I became curious about how much of the earth is actually categorized as desert, and I’m surprised at the answer. One third! Just as physical deserts can be found on every continent, I believe that every one of us will experience the desolate walk through a  “spiritual desert,” multiple times, while we live on earth. When you do, remember the truth, and remember to Whom you belong.

The words of Isaiah 43:19 are comforting and compelling when we think of them in light of our own arduous journey.

 “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”