Sharpen the Focus!

The same Spirit who settled on Jesus as the loving words of God rang in his ears now sends him into the desert, where “angels attended him” (13). The word angel means “messenger”, and here they bring a very practical message of love from God the Father to sustain Jesus through his time of testing. Many Christians talk about “desert places” in rather negative terms – as places that are barren, desolate, and to be avoided at all costs. And yet when I’ve been in deserts, the silence, the lack of perceptual stimulation, and the disciplines needed just to survive have focused my attention as few other environments have. Away from distractions and the familiar supports to my existence, I’ve been able to hear God speak to me at a deeper and more profound level about what’s really important in life and the path I should follow. Could it be that the deserts I experience in my Christian life are really God’s opportunities for growth and redirection, rather than places of failure or despair? Let us ask God to help us to rejoice in these times and have eyes to see the treasures that exist in these places which can be found no where else.