“It is better to be emptied out in the desert and be with our great God than to be indulged in the world without God. Plus, those who hang in there through the desert will get to the Promised Land.” – Gwen Shamblin
Simplicity… ruined by contemplative clutter. Peace… threatened by the self-induced storm. Trust… clouded by nagging insecurity.
The addiction to self screams over it all. And I run, hoping my pounding steps will drown the noise. I sprint further into the brokenness. And I can’t stop.
I know truth, yet I still waiver. My Maker knows my heart, yet He still pursues. I can’t explain His ways… His wisdom.
We’re the adulterous wife discovered by Relentless Love. Hear Him speak…
“I am going to allure her; I will lead her to the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards and I will make the Valley of Achor (trouble) a door of hope.” Hosea 2:14, 15
After we choose brokenness — after our choice is made — He pulls us from the mess into loneliness. Ah, the redeeming solitude that scares us to death… that scares us into the arms of our Lover. And He carves away the distractions to form caverns in our hearts… Caverns so vast, so deep, so empty. Caverns only He can fill.
And His tender words echo into the emptiness and settle in my thoughts. Yes, emptiness is beautiful, for I hear nothing but Him.
“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, O take and seal it.” – Robert Robinson, mid-1700’s
