Ex Nihilo.

June 29th, 2018. “Today I hiked Angels Landing. I think there were a lot of reminders there for me today. There was a white butterfly that flew alongside me for about ten minutes on my way up. It reminded me of Zimbabwe, of purity and of freedom, of all that the Lord represents. Since Zion is in the desert, the hike also reminded me that we can be in a desert season of our 'wow' encounters with the Holy Spirit. Each step of my hike was dry. It was hot. And, the further I got, the more desperate I felt for the water that was quickly diminishing from my water bottle. What does so much of our relationship with God feel like? Our walk with the Lord can feel drab. We do not have the motivation to dedicate time to spend in God’s Word. We feel like our everyday lives are on some sort of weird repeat, and you are not feeling the Lord guide you like you have before. This a desert. It is a hard place to be in, and sometimes it takes all you have to make it through.  You know what’s crazy about a desert? The Lord still created it. It is still beautiful. But, maybe it’s different than what we thought or expected. Maybe it’s hotter than we wanted. Maybe the road in the desert is longer than we hoped it would be. Maybe your water ran out about a mile ago, and you are wondering how that will affect your chances of survival. Maybe the sweat that is dripping from your face changed the way you wanted to appear. This is the nitty gritty. The things we fear. Yet, He is still with us, even if He’s not felt. Be assured that the Lord uses every season, every terrain. He is shaping you for what’s next. Whether your desert is a few days, weeks, or months, the Lord is at work. Keep chasing after Him. He is our source. The terrain is not our source. The people are not our source. The source of our strength and power come from the Almighty. All of this was running through my mind today as I looked over the valley in Zion and softly I heard God cut in and say, ‘The desert is Beautiful’.”This journal entry is a short glimpse into a lesson the Lord taught me that changed my life. I may only be a messenger, but I would be a poor one if I did not share with you this truth that we so often forget. A scripture floods my head when I think about what the Lord told me. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3).Our deserts and our trials are beautiful in the eyes of a Creator who wants you to be the best that you can be. This summer He allowed me to rename my trial, of any size, from difficulty to beautiful. Picture your all-loving Father looking over your life, no matter how big the mess; He is whispering over you today, “The desert is Beautiful.”words by Abby Pullicin and photo by Arianna TaralsonSaveSave