For Joseph, a deep pit in the desert was the first stop on a 13-year journey through desolation and despair. That 13-year desert experience served to break Joseph’s self-will and self-confidence. It taught him that he could not control anything and that he needed to rely on God to manage all the events in his life. Joseph’s desert trial prepared him by scorching the youthful pride and arrogance out of his young life so that when he was 30 years old he could rule Egypt at Pharaoh’s side in a spirit of humility and servant-hood and help save his people, the Israelis.

Before becoming king of Israel, David was a shepherd. Part of his training for leadership involved hand-to-claw combat with the beasts of the wilderness, including the lion and the bear.

Elijah learned the principles of spiritual leadership while in the wilderness of Gilead.

Jesus was tempted and tested for 40 days in the desert before He began to preach.

Perhaps God has given you a dream, but now it seems that your dream has withered and died under the scorching desert sun. It seems that God has gone away and is not listening to your prayers. But I want you to know that that your dream still lives. God is with you, even if you can’t see Him, hear Him or sense His presence. He is preparing you in the desert and when He is ready and the time is right He will bring you and your destiny together.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I know that You are doing a thousand things right now on my behalf that I cannot see, but I know that I will see them, when You are ready to reveal them to me. I will keep My eyes and my heart focused on You. I know that I am going through this desert so that when I come out of it, I will be more like Jesus. I thank You that while I am in the desert, that You will never leave me, You comfort me, and You will deliver me. I will also comfort others who are in the desert, with the same care, love, goodness, kindness and tenderness that You showed me. “Blessed be the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” No matter what is going on, I will continue to lean on and rely on Your promises and continue to praise You. And I will always remember that best of all, God is with me! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.