Refreshing in the Desert

Study includes:

A. Prophetic Encouragement
B. Devotional Teaching
C. Weekly Scripture Meditation
D. Resource Corner

A. Prophetic Encouragement

Are you going through a desert experience right now? Don’t lose hope … there is destiny in you! When God said, “I know the plans that I have for you … plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope,” He really meant it. Your desert is only temporary … and you will always find refreshing at the Well.

B. Devotional Teaching

Our summer in the southern Arizona desert has been very harsh this year. We’ve had triple digit weather (Fahrenheit) since May, and very little rain. Even though deserts do have a certain charm, it’s not surprising that we generally associate the term “desert” with personal hardship, drought, discipline and testing.

A Biblical Desert Account

The Bible has quite a few “desert stories,” and most of them portray one or more of the situations mentioned above. I personally find that the most heart-wrenching biblical desert story is also the most inspiring and hope-filled. It began when Abraham got up early one morning and told Hagar, the mother of his firstborn, Ishmael, that they were no longer welcome in his household. Then he sent them away into the harshness of the Beersheba desert (Genesis 21).

Hagar, who at one time was sure that her son would inherit all the land, herds and wealth of Abraham, ended up with nothing but some bread and water. No matter the circumstances that brought this about, you have to feel compassion for these two very hurt, confused and frightened individuals.

Have you ever felt like that? Things seem to be going well enough, but then you are thrust into the desert. Sometimes it happens suddenly, while at other times you are simply walking down life’s path and then realize that you somehow ended up in a wasteland.

The Bible says that Hagar “wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.”

That’s pretty descriptive of what a desert will do to you at first. You lose your sense of direction. After a while, your perception plays tricks on you, and you see things that are not there. Whether they are imaginary monsters or mirages that give you false hope, both can equally torment.

And it often gets worse before it gets better:

“When the water in the bottle was all gone, Hagar caused the youth to lie down under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off … for she said, Let me not see the death of the lad. And as she sat down opposite him, he lifted up his voice and wept and she raised her voice and wept” (Genesis 21:15-16 AMP).

Wow. This really gets to me: A picture of total hopelessness as a mother and son were dying of broken hearts – Ishmael grief-stricken over his father’s perceived rejection, and his mom racked with anger toward Abraham and Sarah, as well as devastating guilt, “Did I bring this on?”

Confusion. Rejection. Anger. Guilt. Hopelessness. Anyone who has experienced a “desert” can identify.

But in an instant, everything changed:

“God heard the voice of the youth, and the angel of God called to Hagar… What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the youth … I intend to make him a great nation. Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the bottle with water and caused the youth to drink. And God was with the youth, and he developed; and he dwelt in the wilderness” (Genesis 21:17-20 AMP).

From being on the verge of death, to living again…
Water from the Well Changes Everything.

First, the obvious: It restores life. I can just see Ishmael drinking and slowly coming back to life.

Water also invigorates, cleanses and refreshes. Perhaps after a few drinks, they started pouring the water on themselves. All the dirt, the dust, and impurities washed off. The tiredness left … refreshing came, and strength was restored.

Above all, water in the desert brings an oasis – a refuge of protection and fruitfulness. There probably were palms and other trees feeding off the well, providing both shade and fruit.

Ishmael lived in the desert thereafter … apparently by choice. Why not? No matter what surrounded them, as long as they were near the Water Well, they had all they needed.

No Matter How Harsh the Desert Is … The Well of Living Water Satisfies Our Needs!

You already know where I am going with this:

“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:14 NASB).

No matter what kind of desert we are living in, or how long we have lived there - even if we feel that life is being sucked out of us - as long as we drink from the Well, the Life Source is there.

We might have lost our vision – but we have what we need to cleanse and clarify it. We might feel tired and scorched, but we have El Shaddai, our shade and refuge. We may feel fruitless as we live in drought – but the Spring of Living Water is there.

So How Do We Re-experience the Living Water?

Sometimes, we just need to allow God to open our eyes again in order to see the WELL. Often our eyes have become so filled with debris that we simply can’t see. Paul understood this when he prayed “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18 NASB).

Often, we need to go back to the promises and prophecies over our lives. God reminded Hagar that He would make a great nation out of Ishmael – the same promise He gave her when she first became pregnant. Maybe she thought that the promise was in the context of Ishmael’s relationship with Abraham, so now it all was lost. God reassured her it still stood.

However, to thrive in the desert, our primary focus must always be on the Well. Years ago, I went through an extreme desert experience. I had a set idea regarding how God was going to make things better, and when it didn’t look like it was ever going to happen, I totally “lost it.” I fell on my knees, sobbing and crying out angrily to God. Then He spoke: “Carol,” He said, “If what you’ve been begging Me for never comes to pass – will you still love Me the same?” He gave me the grace to be totally honest – and I replied “no.” I’ll never forget His compassionate voice as He answered: “That’s OK – I was just asking.”

His love overwhelmed me … and I answered back, “God, I want to love You no matter what. Please teach me.” It was a watershed experience in my life. God romanced me and led me into new dimensions of His love and greatness. Although I still clung to my dream for some time, even more I clung to Him. That specific dream never was fulfilled … but He fulfilled dreams I couldn’t even fathom that day I agonized so. Oh, He is Good!

And that leads me to my final point. How interesting that, years later when Abraham died, Isaac and Ishmael both buried Abraham. That tells me that somewhere down the line, some reconciliation took place between the two, (even though a couple of generations later the rifts began).

When you live at the Well, where all your needs are supplied in Him – let go of what thrust you in the desert in the first place. Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there some failure or broken dream? Something you may even need to forgive yourself for? Note that when the Lord appeared before Hagar and Ishmael, He didn’t say “you blew it” or “you brought it on yourselves.” He simply reminded them of promised destiny. Even though you may be having a desert experience right now, there is destiny in you!

You see the desert, but God sees your destiny.

Hmmm. I think I’m going to go get some refreshment from that Well right now. How about you?

C. Weekly Scripture Meditation

Week ONE – Genesis 21:1-21
Week TWO – Jeremiah 29:11-14; Isaiah 44:1-8
Week THREE – John 4:1-42; Luke 11:37-39
Week FOUR – Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 1

D. Resource Corner

In the Zone - by Patricia King

You were created to be blessed, to know the very best that God has to offer all the days of your life. If you have been living in a place of lack, hardship, or frustration, it is time to shift into the Blessing Zone and know the goodness of God in every area of your life!

His Passionate Pursuit - by Victoria Boyson

Through passionate encounters with God, Victoria Boyson has given us an articulate portrait of God’s heart for us. His Passionate Pursuit is a gift to the Body of Christ to dispel the lies of centuries of spiritual barrenness in the Church.

His Passionate Pursuit is a portal to heaven, unleashing God’s presence into your life, empowering you with an impartation from His heart.

Never, Never, Never Give Up! – by James Goll and Patricia King

The promises of God are yes and amen. They are sure things. But along the way, the enemy will try to weigh you down with resistance, delays and frustrations to get you to give up and turn away. Yet, if you simply hang on and endure, if you simply lock in to what God has for you and allow Him to strengthen you for the journey, you will see the fullness of God explode into your life and all of His promises blossom into a bouquet of blessings for you.

As you listen to these messages from Patricia King and James Goll you will receive great grace to run your race. God never fails. Plug into His faithfulness, and decide right now that you will never, never, never give up until you see the victory!

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