The Promised Land
Lately, it feels as if I’m wandering in the desert like the Israelites did: discontent & questioning God’s plans for their (my) dreams.
As I pour my heart out to Him, seeking His direction & peace in the midst of my discontentment & misery, I hear Him whisper to my heart:
“This is your desert. I am leading you to the Promised Land.”
Six months ago, I took a leap of faith & started walking the dream God placed on my heart: writing. During this time, I have watched Him open doors for me in ways I could never imagine. Yet my heart is restless for more. My heart longs to lay aside my current career, to solely focus on the business my husband & I run together, to do more writing & to have a baby.
I’m tired. I’m weary. My heart isn’t in this place any longer & I’m ready for my dreams to unfold into what I call, “The Promised Land”
So I ask God, “Why the desert? Why the hot, dry, miserable heat of the desert? Why not the Promised Land… now?”
Philippians 4:11 comes to mind: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.“
Ahh there’s that word, “content”
See, the problem with the Israelites & their time in the desert was ATTITUDE.
God had delivered them from Egypt & the rule of Pharaoh & set them on a journey to the Promised Land. Their attitudes created the 40-year wait they had in the desert; not God. They grumbled. They were impatient. They were angry. They missed the familiarity of their past & as a result of their attitudes, they made decisions that affected their journey. Their attitudes extended their time in the desert & for many, it meant they never got to see the Promised Land with their own eyes. They gave up and gave in to the sins & attitudes of the world & it stole their Promised Land experience.
I don’t want that! I don’t want to be so consumed with complaining & grumbling my way to the Promised Land, that I forfeit my own entrance into the dreams God has for me.
I want to enjoy my journey to the Promised Land, not just get there. It’s not the dream that God wants me to focus on, it’s the journey with Him that matters most.
Luke 16:10 says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.”
If God has planted a dream in my heart, then before I can achieve that dream I must prove to be faithful with the journey I’m on right here & now.
If I can’t be trusted with the mundane things in my life today, how I can be trusted with the beauty of a dream tomorrow?
Jesus, help me as I walk this desert valley,
to keep my eyes on You & the dreams you’ve planted in my heart.
Help me to be ever mindful of the blessings
you have poured into my life & to never take them for granted.
Forgive me for my grumbling, disbelief, lack of trust & impatience.
Thank you for faithfully reminding me
that you are orchestrating the tapestry of my life perfectly:
You’re moving mountains & changing hearts, but mostly changing my own heart.
Draw me closer to you & birth in me a deep contentment for you alone,
So our journey together will be seasoned with joy & not grumbling.
~Amen~
I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of three amazing writing communities.
Won’t you join me over at the blogs of three of my sweat friends?
Holley Gerth, with Coffee for your Heart
Simply Beth, with Three Word Wednesday
Rebekah A Hughes with Words of Life Wednesday
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Satin Pelfrey
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You have such a gift for weaving your life story, bible stories and God’s whisperings with your words. They come up as wisdom from your heart. The prayer you closed with was beautifully written and speaks to my heart too. I whispered it back to God as I read it. Thank you so much!
{Tears} Thank you, Maria. I am so, very grateful that my heart comes out in my writings the way it does. I am immensely thankful for your kind words of encouragement & indebted to Jesus for His love. Love to you, my friend! ♥
May we always remember – even in the desert, God provided everything they needed. It has always amazed me how even in their wandering, God was providing and protecting and loving them. Wonderful post!
Oh friend, my heart knows this season. It appears dry and lifeless, but God is busy rooting you deeper — deeper in His love for you. There is water way down deep. Tap into it. Allow Him to refresh your weary heart. He has not forsaken you. Trusting Him to lead you through this valley time, and that you will come out with a full heart, bursting with JOY! Love you!
Oh what a comfort it is to know I’m not alone. Whew! ♥ Thank you for your precious words of encouragement & love!! Sending you a big hug today!! Love you! ♥
The desert is a hard place–especially if you hate heat ;). But I’ve discovered beauty lurks in the desert as well–but one must look closely to discover the tiny blossoms of hope that carpet the desert floor in the spring time. And so it is with our lives when we’re in a desert spot. We must look closely for the beauty to sustain us through the heat. May God be with you on your journey!
Amen. The desert is such a hard place to be, but I know it’ll be worth it. It’s in those dry moments that I have drawn even closer to God and depended on him as if my next breath depended on it.I know you are doing the same. I can’t wait to see how God is going to open doors for you…I know you will be blown away by what He’s got planned for your life!!! 🙂
Friend, as always, thank you for stopping by! Always appreciate your encouragement & words of affirmation as you walk this journey with me! Thank you for taking the time for me! I’m excited too, for all that God is doing in my life, family & ministry. He is GOOD!!! 😉 Love to you! ♥
Yes, thank you. This is just what I needed to read this week as I was lamenting to God about an area of my life, my future dreams, that just don’t seem to be coming any time soon. I so appreciate you sharing your heart, reminding me it’s about my attitude. And this line especially spoke to me: “It’s not the dream that God wants me to focus on, it’s the journey with Him that matters most.” Thank you.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Kendra! Jesus be with you on this journey & give you joy as you wait on Him. I’m right there with you-waiting is so hard when all I see is what’s in front of me, vs what He’s promised me… trust… it’s a beautiful yet challenging thing! 😉 Love to you! ♥
Lord, thank you for those words Satin shared from her heart . I really needed to hear You speak through this. Help me to live the prayer at the end of this post. Lord help my heart to trust in you and lean on your strength not my own. This journey you walk with us through needs your grace. Thankyou for being the One who never leaves or gives up on us. Jesus as I begin the medication for ms grant please keep my focus on You no matter what. Amen.
Hello sweet friend. I read this a few days ago but finally making it back to leave a comment. I just love your heart and I love how your words so beautifully reflect how even in the waiting God is moving in your life. He wastes nothing. The journey does matter. I pray He continues to awaken your heart to all the beauty He has for you, even in this time of waiting. I love you so much. {Hugs}
It is always difficult to travel through the desert… the heat of each moment, the long strides it takes to get to the oasis, the burns from the things that sting along the way… but the blessing lies within the journey. It’s what happens along the way that shapes everything to come after.
Look for the blessings and you shall surely find them.
I pray you find them.
You are a beautiful soul on a journey. Thank you for sharing it.