Therefore I am now going to allure her;I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. Hosea 2:14
Though I know these scriptures and what they are speaking of, I want to take just the words given and in true TIOW fashion make them my own....
As a mother, part of my job is to be sure that my children have learned the valuable lessons that I attempt to teach them during certain stages of their life. For example, when my children were toddlers I taught them to feed themselves, dress themselves, and even to fall asleep on their own. In order to be sure they had truly learned how to feed themselves there was a time when I just had to give them the food, sit back, and observe them. I refrained from telling them step by step what to do or guiding them with my own hand. I watched from a distance and only "intervened" if I saw the fork too close to their eye or their brother's hand. I could never truly know if they had learned this lesson unless I allowed them to do it alone, unassisted, even though I was watching from a distance the whole time.
There are times in our walk with our heavenly Father that are just like this. I call them the "desert experience." It is times in my life when I feel God's presence less and less. When things come at me full force and I have to decide to handle it the way my Father taught me or do I go back to my way which can never truly feed my starving soul? For over a year I did not feel God's presence but once or twice, yet, I knew He was still there, watching; observing. Occasionally He would say, "No, Amy" ever so gently and that was all. But I knew what He meant because of the previous lessons He had taught me. It was coming out of the desert and being saturated in my Father's presence once again that let me know that I had done well. I had learned the lessons and it was kind of like I knew He was all smiles and hugs because he was proud of His daughter. Just the same as I was when one of my sons learned to feed himself.
Be thankful for time in the desert. He brought you there for a reason.
Stumble it!
12 Thoughts Shared:
I really enjoyed reading your "In Other Words". I haven't visited before, but mine is here:
http://iamhisbeloved.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/how-long/
Blessings to you,
AutumnRose xx
You sum that up beautifully! I love this post!
I like your thought about how He teaches us lessons like we teach our kids and then there comes a time when He turns us loose to see if we have learned what we needed to learn. Often for me its back to the classroom occasionally for a refresher course on something I didn't get the first time. God bless your day!
Absolutely perfect....
When we put it into our own frame of parental reference it makes so much sense...why do we EVER resist the call to the desert? We just don't want to go...fight it...
Growing to the point in faith and relationship with Christ to where we see the desert for what it really is, not a punishment, but a place where we can hear and LISTEN...
wonderful...you blessed me!
hugs,
lori
I can honestly say I am EXTREMELY happy that I am in the desert!
Thank you for sharing your experience!
I also have never visited before, but I'll be back!
In Christ,
Audie
Amy, I like this illustration. God seems distant at times, but He is watching us. Seeing if we can follow the instructions He's already given. So true.
What a neat and thoughtful post.
Amy,
This post really spoke to my heart. Thank you for sharing.
I loved this post, blessings to you sweetie.
Hey Amy,
This was really good, and so true. I think it's harder for us as parents to step back then to intervene. I'm sure God feels the same way about us.
I'm so glad He's always there, no matter what♥
I truly understand you take on this! Thank you for sharing.
Be blessed!
Hi Amy - it is always amazing to me how much my experience as a parent helps me to understand more and more of God's love for me. And you and I know that He truly is there, even at our darkest moments. He calls us, even out of the shadows, into the light of His love. Thanks for all you do out here in the bloggy commumity! ;o) Nina
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