By the Way: What does God have to offer in the desert?

By Roland Weisbrot on March 22, 2025.

The Church is currently observing the season of Lent, a time generally associated with prayer, fasting, and giving up things which may be obstacles in our relationship with God.

Much is written about various Lenten spiritual disciplines, so instead of focusing on that, I want to ask another question: what does God have to offer in the desert?

Now when I say “the desert” I am not talking about a literal desert; rather, this is as a metaphor for a place of privation, of limitation, of duress and difficulty.

In short, what I mean by “desert” is a place where life is hard. There are many in our city who in this Lenten season have already given up much-willingly or unwillingly-so what can be said to them?

What can be said to the family struggling to pay the bills?

What can be said to the person who lost their job?

What can be said to the individual experiencing homelessness?

If we look at the two most prominent desert experiences in Scripture, the first from the Book of Exodus and the second from the Gospels, we begin to find an answer.

In Exodus, Moses is leading the people of Israel out of Egypt and toward the Promised Land. Throughout this time, God goes with the people and provides for their need of food and water.

In the Gospels, Jesus enters the desert for forty days, and during that time God is always with Him, comforting Him and strengthening Him, even as the Devil prowls and tries to tempt Him.

So, what does God offer in the desert? He offers His presence, He offers His provision, and He offers hope for the future.

Therefore, if you find yourself in a desert this Lent, know that God is with you in the desert – and that those who trust in Him will be guided out.

Pastor Roland Weisbrot is the Lead Pastor of Victory Lutheran Church

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