There are many survival books, television shows, youtube videos, etc. They cover a wide range of scenarios that you may or may not find yourself in and give you tips on how to survive. One particular topic is how to survive a desert. Now we may not find ourselves lost in a physical desert, but rest assured if you live for God long enough you will find yourself in a spiritual one. I would like to take some tips from what I have found on surviving a desert and apply them to surviving a spiritual desert.
Be prepared to build a fire.
This is one of the first things that I have found and though it doesn’t seem right, it is important. Yeah, I know you’re probably thinking the desert is hot enough. This is true, the desert is hot, during the day. Depending on the desert the temperatures can drop down to between 25 degrees to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Storing up dry kindling during the hot day of the desert doesn’t make sense, but it will when night falls. Fire can represent prayer. You must stay prayed up while going through a spiritual desert. When going through this it’s easy to not feel like praying. It may not even make sense to you at times to pray. This is because you don’t feel like your prayers are doing anything. Just because you don’t feel like you’re accomplishing anything by praying, do not stop praying. This is key to your survival.
Psalm 143:6 KJV I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Stay off the ground.
While exhaustion might cause you to want to lie down on the ground, you should stay off of it whenever possible. The desert ground can reach 30 degrees hotter than the air temperature. You can’t lay down in your desert. It may get hard, the days may get long, the heat may be intense, but don’t give up. Don’t lay down.
Psalm 27:14 ISV Wait on the LORD. Be courageous, and he will strengthen your heart. Wait on the LORD!
Keep your clothes on.
Do not remove your clothes. This may seem counter-intuitive, especially in high temperatures, but keeping covered up may save your life. Don’t lose your standards in your desert. Don’t lose your separation from the world.
1 Peter 1:16 KJV Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Tell people where you are going.
If people don’t know where you’re going then if you get lost or injured they won’t know where to look for you. When you’re going through a spiritual desert, tell someone. This way you can have help. They can help you pray, they can lift you up when you get down, they can help you survive.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 KJV 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Don’t drink from the cactus.
Yeah, it’s a myth to drink from a cactus to survive. Most of us have probably heard this and thought it to be trustworthy, but in fact it will probably kill you. The water inside the average cactus is not pure enough to drink and is toxic to the human body. You’re better off not drinking any water at all than resorting to this. You should not rely on the world and its understanding for solutions to your desert. Nor should you trust in your own understanding of the situation, but trust in God and His understanding.
1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Proverbs 3:5 KJV Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Find shade.
The heat of the desert sun is enough to kill you. You must find shade from it. God is our ultimate shade from the sun. The secret place of God is prayer. Cover yourself with prayer and get in His presence. This will give you comfort from the things that drain you in your desert. He also gives us Pastors and spiritual leaders that are a covering to us. Stay submitted to your Pastor and also talk to him about your desert journey.
Psalm 91:1 KJV He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 121:5-7 KJV 5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
Hebrews 13:17 NLT Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
Stay Hydrated.
Always carry sufficient water or find a source of water. Don’t lose your faith, keep believing and trusting God. Read the Word of God, trust what it says and gain nourishment from it.
John 7:38 KJV He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Keep A Map.
When surviving in the desert, the most crucial tip for navigation is to always keep a detailed map or GPS with you and know how to use it. Stay in the Word of God, I cannot say this enough. Study it, learn from it, get direction from it.
Psalm 119:105 KJV Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Don’t Panic.
Stay Calm and Don’t Panic. Panic is one of the most dangerous parts of any survival situation and being lost or stranded in the middle of the desert. You must stay calm in our spirits. Remember God has not forsaken you even if you feel forsaken.
Philippians 4:6-7 NET 6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
You can survive your desert experience. Others have done it and so can you, say within yourself, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13 KJV). For we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:37 KJV).
God has not brought you this far to abandon you. You are not alone for He has said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5 KJV). God has given us the power to overcome, He will renew your strength. Make up in your mind that you will survive this desert.
Isaiah 40:29-31 KJV 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.