What the desert taught me
There is beauty to be found IN the midst of the silence and the wilderness.
We were just 3 years into marriage when we made the move from Australia to Arizona.
With eager and expectant hearts we arrived and long story short, we entered into a long desert season ourselves.
We had been walking through a really difficult period of time, and one day we decided we needed to shake things up a bit and break out our normal evening routine. We decided to make our way out of the suburbs and go for a drive into the actual desert. We stepped out of the car and the silence screamed. It was like something I had never experienced before.
I thought I knew what silence was. I thought I knew what it felt like to be completely alone, isolated, abandoned, and confused, but here’s what TRUE silence taught me that day.
When it is silent you are grateful for who you do have.
We grabbed our backpack and started our trek towards a little landing. As we started to hike, there was this eerie feeling that rushed over me. The silence was terrifying- but every step deeper into it, we got closer to the most beautiful sunset. Once we arrived, we sat down on the rock to watch the beauty unfolding around us. The fear that once was making me watch my every step was settled as I fell into Jacoby’s arms as we gazed ahead. Although we were alone, I was so grateful I had him. The silence began to not be so daunting as we helped ourselves be fully present where we were.
The silence allows you to hear more clearly.
It’s interesting how something like silence can expose so much. We could hear every step and each tiny shift our bodies would make. I could hear not only my own heart beat, but as I cuddled up next to Jacoby, I could hear his too. I remember a moment of wanting to turn on some music to counter the silence, but instead we decided to lean into the stillness.
I wonder how many of us miss out on what God is trying to teach us in the silence. I know for me it is so easy to be uncomfortable with it and try to fill it with noise. Noise can look like literal sound- podcasts, music, audio books or it can look like creating a busy calendar for the sole reason of not allowing yourself to be in the quiet. When you make space for the silence and yourself to just be - you’ll be surprised what you hear. May it be answers, clarity, or just peace… If you settle into the silence and invite God to draw near, I guarantee you’ll find it.
The silence is compelling .
The very next day we asked our best friends to come out with us to that very same spot. Although the silence was a bit frightening, we actually had such a sweet time together and wanted to share this spot and our season with our friends. There’s something about asking other people to enter into your desert season that can completely transform the way you see. Vulnerability breeds vulnerability, and when you can open up to a trusted friend or another couple to walk hand-in-hand with you through the wilderness, you’ll realize that you’re not alone. It’s much easier to stand up to the lies that come at you in the silence when you are surrounded by those who love you.
The truth is, you may be walking in a season that feels dark. You may be lonely. You may be tired and wondering when this season will come to an end.
But the lie is that you are alone and that you will not get out of this season.
There is beauty to be found IN the midst of the silence and the wilderness. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Walk through the valley. Don’t stay sitting in it for too long. Be vulnerable with those you trust to help you get through this season. Look for glimmers of hope in the desert, I promise they are there and if you let them, they will teach you something significant.