40 years in the desert – Meghan E White

Hello everyone! I haven’t blogged for a few weeks and wanted you to know that I’m still here, just been busy. We went to Arizona for a week to visit my sweet in-laws. The pictures are from our trip. We went through Sabino Canyon for the first time and it was incredible. There are numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, all kinds of trees, and of course, cactus.

I loved seeing the contrast of the vibrant yellow cottonwood trees against the brown desert terrain. It was stunning and so peaceful. This spectacular canyon is an oasis in the desert. Since I love my metaphors, this canyon spoke right to my soul.

I’ve experienced a few deserts in my life. Everything is brown and all hope seems gone. There’s no way to parch your thirst. You cry out to God for help, for some sort of respite in such harsh conditions. You wonder if He sees you and your suffering as you wait for an answer.

Then something incredible happens right in the middle of your desert, a stream appears seemingly out of nowhere. God provides water for your thirsty soul, and gives you rest for your weariness. He gives you the strength to keep going, and the courage to press on in the wilderness.

God has been faithful to me in every one of my desert experiences. If you are in the desert right now He is with you. He’s not going to leave you there. Keep following Jesus and He will get you where you need to go. And along the way He will provide streams for you right smack dab in the middle of the desert.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19, NIV

Stay encouraged. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. You are going to make it.

I love you and I’m praying for you.

A little side note. I got a super fun case of food poisoning right after we got back home from our trip. I don’t recommend it, but I survived by the grace of God.

If you need prayer just leave your request in the comments, or drop me an email. meghanewhiteauthor@gmail.com

Love you all,

Meghan

“‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

Numbers 6:24-26, NIV

The Priestly Blessing is one of the most beautiful passages in scripture. I adore these verses. There are denominations that end each service by reading this blessing. What an incredible way to end a time of worship.

These are God’s words to the Israelites and to us. God loves us so much. He is with us, guiding us, protecting us, shining His face on us. This is miraculous. The God of the universe is infinite and intimate.

When the Lord gave these words to Moses to tell Aaron and his sons, Israel would soon leave Sinai and head out to the desert.

³⁴For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ Numbers 14:34, NIV

The Lord used those forty years in the desert to prepare the Israelites for the Promised Land. They would need that daily reminder of the Lord’s love and faithfulness. This was His blessing for the journey through the dessert.

You might be in a desert right now, or about to go through one. You will make it. The Lord will bless you and keep you. You may have to eat some manna during the desert time, but you will come out stronger with a deeper faith in the Lord.

God never lets time in the desert go to waste.

There were countless miracles in the wilderness for the Israelites. God provided manna and quail. Their flocks increased. God blessed them with health. They followed a supernatural cloud by day and fire by night. All these things and more happened in the desert.

I can’t help but think of what is happening right now. As the world turns against Christians increasingly more and more, we must keep our eyes on the Lord. The Lord will sustain us. The Lord will continue to bless us. The Lord will keep us. The Lord will keep shining His face on us.

²⁷“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27, NIV

The Lord is the one who blesses through the words spoken by the priests. God putting His name on the people shows they belong to Him, and He is the source of all blessings. Those of us in Christ are now children of God through our faith in Jesus (Galations 3:26). We belong to God from whom all blessings flow and we bear the name of Jesus (1 Peter 4:16). In Jesus we have every single thing we need.

The Lord bless you and keep you,

the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you peace.

Amen

Love you all,

Meghan

Tag: 40 years in the desert

Streams in the Desert

The Lord Bless You