A few months ago I spoke to a group about how I had gone through years of wilderness. During this period of wilderness it was difficult and I wondered whether there would be a time when things would change. I guess it was my heart that changed first. I realised that I needed to stop seeing God as my enemy but as my friend and advocate, my Lord and Saviour. I was angry with God that certain things had happened and this anger had built up over a period of time. I was honest and real with God about this. There was no point hiding as he knew everything. And it was a relief to just share with him how things had been hard and painful and then confess the the things that were not good in my own heart and ask for his forgiveness and transformation. No quick easy answers. Looking back now I can see that my faith blossomed in the wilderness as I came to know God more and his care for me.

In the book of Isaiah 35:1 it says “the desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom”. Further on in the chapter there is a wonderful promise “strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way, say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not not fear..”

Blossoms come before fruit. So the blossoms that come in the wilderness can in time become fruitful in our lives and in the lives of others. And yet there is a vulnerability for blossoms to the weather. I can remember a number of times hearing a weather forecaster on the radio saying cover your plants as there is a frost on the way.

A few years ago I went to a peace conference and I wrote to one of the speakers. He sent me a postcard with the following words “it is in the shelter of each other that people live.” What a beautiful expression. We are not to be stand alone but be part of something bigger. The command to love God and love our neighbours speaks of the importance of relationship. When we go out in the cold we make sure that we are adequately covered to protect ourselves from the elements. And in this world we can look out for others and cover them in prayer and care.

One of the classic images of protection is the armour in the book of Ephesians (Chapter 6:10-20). Yet foundational to this is knowing where our strength comes from. Not from anything we are but because of who he is. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation come as we turn our eyes away from ourselves to him. And then to others as we pray with all kinds of prayers and requests so that others can know the love of Jesus in their lives and situations.

Sometimes we do not know we are in blossom until the fruit comes. And yet there is a promise that if we abide in God we will bear much fruit. In the book of Galatians we read of the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. We may fail and we do fail but God is our advocate and is there if we ask for his help and forgiveness. May God bless you whether you are in dessert, wilderness, or in the hub of activity. May you blossom and bear fruit that will bring care and love to others.