Beyond Desolation: What to Do When You Have Nothing Leftنموونە

“You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north.” (Deuteronomy 2:3)

God spoke these words to the Israelites after forty years of circular wandering. A new path was finally available. It was time to turn.

Perhaps your desolation is because you’re doing too much circling and not enough turning around a particular “mountain” in your life (e.g. a relationship, job, commitment, etc.).

Sometimes we get so comfortable, we drift into a vague existence, an enabling or addictive pattern, or a paralyzing familiarity. Changing direction either feels threatening– or never even comes on our radar.

If you identify with chronic circling, consider:

• What’s the “mountain” I'm circling?
• What’s keeping me from turning “North?”
• What do I gain by circling? By turning?
• What’s my “North”? What does my soul ultimately want?

Chronic circling creates desolation, which creates discouragement. It slowly blurs our vision to see anything new, hampering our ability to make a plan of change. We end up seeing through eyes of limitation rather than possibility.

Be encouraged. God has a plan for you. It’s real. It’s just buried under depletion.

Even when God’s people spent 70 years in captivity (a.k.a. desolation), He assured them of a future plan (Jeremiah 29:10,11). However, He also instructed them to make plans while in captivity. He told them to build houses, plant gardens and settle down (Jeremiah 29:4-6).

We tend to take Jeremiah 29:11 out of context, waiting for the more prosperous future plan, not wanting to make plans for the hard “now.” This is a mistake. Like the Israelites, we need to make plans during desolation and plans for afterwards, trusting He will guide our steps (Proverbs 16:9).

If it’s clear your desolation isn’t an ordained season, but stems from your “circling” out of fear or familiarity, you’re the one hindering your “turning.” It’s not the mountain that’s in your way. You’re in your own way.

Today, you are invited to adjust your mindset. Leave the circling of habitual, unhelpful, or unhealthy ways of living and take the next step toward turning north.

What would that look like for you?

A desolate soul, regardless of reason, often needs help finding renewal. Find someone you can trust to help you find that next step, or a professional to lead you through the intentional turning.

Your new season of fulfillment may be just around the corner.

**If your desolation feels more like burnout, tomorrow’s message is for you!