Hey, it’s been a while, but we all need some time to think and wonder in silence.

Have you ever felt lost? Do you ever wonder what is going on, or ask, “Why did this happen to me?” I’ve just finished reading through Numbers and Deuteronomy, where the Israelites wandered the desert; by continuing to believe in the Lord, they were led in the right direction. When they turned from God, sought out other gods, or lost faith, they were punished.

This past weekend, I went to a young adult retreat with the theme “Rejoice in the Desert.” When you think of the desert, you might think of a place that is hot, dry, desolate, and difficult to survive. While that can be true, you might also stumble across an oasis that fills you up. When you’re in the desert—or any tough situation—if you just sit still, you’re not going to go anywhere and your state won’t improve.

A key takeaway from this retreat was that we need to rejoice and praise our Lord for any encounters we face, good or bad, and allow Him to guide us. How often do we think of bringing our disappointments or desires to the Lord? I haven’t always given these to Him myself, and I realized I never improved by sitting on thoughts of disappointment without doing something about it. If you find yourself lost in the desert and unsure of where to go, ask the Lord for help and listen to where He is calling you. This period of dryness can help reveal what is happening in your life, and He wants to become your oasis.

Tomorrow, I’ll share some of our reflection questions and my own answers to help provide further insight.