We have many seasons of our lives.  There are times of great blessing.  We call that season ''the harvest''.  But there are also times of trial and despair.  We call that season ''the desert''.  Sometimes, when we have spent time in the desert, we begin to wonder how we will ever make up for time lost.  Is anything really accomplished while we are in the desert?  Can God really restore the months and years that appear to be wasted?

There is an interesting account in the Bible (Genesis 41) of another man''s season in the desert.  Joseph, the great grandson of Abraham, spent many years in the desert.  First as a slave in Egypt and then as a prisoner in jail for a crime he didn''t commit.  I''m sure he wondered what was the purpose of the time he was spending there.  After all, he had had a dream that suggested he had a great future in leadership.  He thought his future was bright!  But he found himself far away from home with no hope of ever seeing his family again or doing any of the things he had planned to do. 

But the years hadn''t been wasted.  In fact, all those years spent in the desert season became the years that Joseph learned to lead and become the person he needed to be in order to fulfill the purposes God had for his life.  You see Joseph only had a small dream for his life.  God''s dream was much bigger.  God purposed that Joseph would play a significant role in helping to save His beloved people Israel and become one of the greatest leaders of his time.

What can we learn from Joseph''s desert season?

• Our purpose is to fulfill God''s dream, not our own.
• God''s dreams for us are always bigger than ours and will bring us greater satisfaction then our small dream would have.
• We will spend time in God''s training school (also known as ''the desert'') even when we think we are already ready.

If you find yourself in a desert season, take courage.  It may not seem like it but the time is well spent.  God promises to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can ever ask or think.  The dream God dreams over you will bless your life and it will also bless others.  It will give your life purpose and it will be your legacy.