No Turning Back: Lent and the Unbreakable Resolve of Lawrence
One person who knows how punishing and testing the desert can be is Lawrence of Arabia.
Sent on a mission by General Murray, Lawrence knew there was no turning back. Mr. Dryden of the Arab Bureau warned him of the desert’s brutality, to which Lawrence simply replied, “It’s going to be fun.”
Lawrence knew before he entered the lands of the Middle East that it would require not only total commitment, but also perseverance, even patience and an unbreakable resolve.
There really was no turning back.
Jesus faced the same reality when He stepped into the wilderness, away from civilization and the people He knew—truly stepping beyond His comfort zone.
This is part of how Lent is going to be for us. It will test us; it will even push us to the point of breaking us. Just like Lawrence had a guide, we can rely on Jesus as our guide and a source of our strength.
As we enter the second week of Lent, we must steel ourselves as we prepare for the journey ahead. Let us take lessons from both Lawrence and Jesus about how we can not only survive but thrive in the desert.
An Outcast Yet Accepted: Finding Identity in God
Even in solitude, God’s presence never leaves us.
John 1:11: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”
Lawrence was a misfit within the British army. He had his quirky traits and unusual ways to things. But as a whole, he was not held up to the same regard as the other officers, in fact he was very often looked down upon.
Even his general had no patience for him, which is why when a mission came for someone to link of with Prince Faisal to do with the Arab Revolt, he was glad to pan Lawrence off to the envoy without question.
Yet when he was amongst the ranks of the Bedouin tribes, he found acceptance among them, especially when he is open and honest about Britian’s interests in Arabia and assists them in getting to Aqaba.
You may feel like an outcast, doing something different and being someone that others don’t understand. But your acceptance is not in what other people think, it is in your identity. No one else is you and no one lives the life you have.
Jesus understood this when he was rejected by his very own people and even the religious leaders, in of all places, his hometown of Nazareth. They had known home since childhood and seen him perform miracles, but when he returned as an adult, they rejected him, unable to accept that he was the Messiah that they had been praying for. As a result, he never returned to Nazareth.
Yet among the rejected and the outcasts, he found welcome and acceptance. He spent time with them and even ate and drank with them. Jesus experienced everything they were going through, he related to them, but also reminded them that God doesn’t judge who they are because he loves them exactly the way they are.
Lawrence also saw this in the form of two boys who insisted on accompanying the desert caravan across the desert. While the Arabs laughed at them, and Ali who was Feisal’s advisor said they were unsuitable, he ignored all of their judgements and responded with “They seem perfectly suitable.”
During Lent, be true to your identity, don’t let others opinions sway you into becoming someone else. You don’t need the world’s validation as you already have God’s validation. Even when misunderstood, lean onto your faith.
Knowing our identity is one thing, but living it out requires endurance. Just as Lawrence and Jesus faced rejection, they also endured hardships that tested their strength and faith. This leads us to our next challenge—pushing through the wilderness.
Enduring the Desert: Pushing Through Spiritual Hardships
Keep walking—the promise lies beyond the horizon.
Matthew 24:13: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
The Nefud desert was very reputable amongst the Arabs. When they were at the railway which was the border and marked the beginning of it, Ali exclaimed: “From here until the other side, no water but what we carry. For the camels, no water at all. If the camels die, we die and in 20 days, they will start to die.”
With all that information and with no time to waste, they crossed the train tracks and began the long journey across the Nefud.
It was punishing. A fiery furnace where every drop of water was precious. Protection against the heat was a struggle, even with what little resources they could use for shade. Plus, they had to worry and care about the camels, the only living things capable of crossing a desert.
This was really a gigantic test for Lawrence, having never done something like this before. Even the Arabs who are desert dwellers were more used to his, but even they feared the Nefud. This really was a survival of the fittest.
Can you imagine doing what Jesus did and spend 40 days in one? Unlike Lawrence and the party, he was with, Jesus had no water, he had no place to shelter from the heat, he didn’t even have any company.
The thing is while we do have the option to turn back and give up on our journey of Lent. Lawrence and Jesus didn’t. Turning back wasn’t an option for either of them. They couldn’t call an Uber dune buggy or order a rescue helicopter. Their only way out, was through.
We must treat every day of Lent like we are in the middle, we could turn back, but it is better to push forward and endure to the end.
Lent is our Nefud desert; it’s the place where we will be refined and we learn about the spirit of endurance. Denying ourselves things is challenging, but the desert isn’t forever, it’s a stage that we must undergo and remain in for a season before the next part can begin.
But endurance isn’t just about surviving—it’s also about selflessness. In the middle of our own struggles, do we have the strength to turn back and help those in need? Lawrence faced this exact test in the desert, and Jesus demonstrated it throughout His ministry.
Rescuing the Lost: The Cost of Love and Sacrifice
A love so deep, it will cross the wilderness to find you.
Matthew 18:12: “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?”
One of Lawrence’s defining moments is when he willingly turns back into the Nefud desert to rescue one of the group who got lost.
Him and his group had just about reached the end, when they noticed one of their own missing. The party refuses to go back, accepting that if he is alive, he won’t for too long.
Lawrence makes the decision himself to attempt to rescue him, even when he is stopped in his tracks and attempted to talk out of it, he still chooses to go back for him.
Jesus left the safety of heaven to come down to earth to save us. Throughout his life, he went out of his way to be with people, including sinners. In fact, Jesus’ mission was to save the lost and save them from eternal spiritual death.
The parable of the ninety-nine sheep is a reflection of one person’s value.
Though Gasim was written off as lost, Lawrence still went after him. The caravan was already safe having nearly reached the end of the desert. Lawrence left them, going back into the raging furnace they just emerged from in order to rescue the lost.
Lawrence could have easily thought, ‘Well, Gasim shouldn’t have wandered off in the first place!’ But love doesn’t keep score, it takes action. Much like Jesus leaving the ninety-nine for the one, Lawrence turned back when no one else would.
He eventually returned to the group successfully with Gasim alive. Because of this feat, he was held in even higher regard by the Arabs, winning over all of them completely.
God holds all of you in high value and high regard. The beautiful thing is we don’t need to be perfect; he values us just the way we are. One way we decrease our value is when we find faults and mistakes about us.
Do as Lawrence did and Jesus still does, help those around you. Even if it means turning back, by doing this out of love it means that you would be stepping forward and strengthening yourself for the upcoming weeks.
Recognizing our worth is important, but so is walking in truth. Both Lawrence and Jesus didn’t just act with courage—they spoke with honesty, even when it was difficult.
Speaking with Honesty: Walking in Truth
Truth is like light piercing the darkness—it cannot be hidden.
John 8:32: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Another one of Lawrence’s greatest traits was his honesty. He was not afraid to speak his mind or the truth, he didn’t just speak about what they wanted to hear, but what they needed to hear.
In Faisal’s tent when there is a small gathering about what the best course of action would be for him to take. The British wanted him to fall back to defend the Suez Canal, but Lawrence sees a different strategy, to strengthen their position by attacking Aqaba from the land which will allow the British navy to provide a way to get artillery which Faisal greatly honours.
Despite Colonel Brighton’s insistence that Lawrence remains quiet, but Faisal still values Lawrence’s honesty, allowing him to speak.
Even after he has had his say, Lawrence declares to Brighton that he was wrong about what he feels Faisal should do.
Once the group is dismissed, Faisal keeps Lawrence behind and had a private audience with him. where Lawrence hears him out and gets to be more upfront and honest about the current affairs and about himself.
Jesus was never one to sugarcoat the truth, even when opposition came thick and hard. He was not afraid to point out the hypocrisy of the pharisees, correct his disciples when they were wrong. Yet every time, he spoke with love and authority, aswell as conviction, clarity and transparency.
Is there an area in your life where honesty is needed? Are there sins we need to repent of, is there someone we need to forgive or apologise to?
Lawrence wasn’t afraid to say what needed to be said, even if it ruffled some feathers. Jesus did the same, except instead of feathers, He ruffled entire religious institutions.
Truth must be spoken, but it must also be carried with patience and kindness. Lawrence demonstrated great restraint, and Jesus embodied perfect humility in every aspect of His life.
Patience and Kindness: The Strength of Humility
True strength is found in kindness, not force.
Proverbs 15:1: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Lawrence was a very composed and disciplined individual. He rarely retaliated in anger, he was for the most part, polite and patient, even when he was mistreated.
Showing great restraint, holding his tongue when he knew it wasn’t the right time to speak showed great signs of inner strength.
Jesus embodied humility in every aspect of his life. He never once demanded high status or even recognition. Instead, he came to serve rather than be served, he washed his disciples’ feet, he never took more than was necessary. Every act was a sign of how he lived life and showed how he loves us.
Even when he was beaten, mocked and crucified, he refused to retaliate. Even when he was walking to his death, he continued to show that love and humility by praying: “Father, forgive them.”
True strength lies not in vengeance, but in humility. Lawrence understood this, and Jesus perfected it. Now, as we reflect on this journey through Lent, we must ask ourselves—are we willing to walk this path to completion?
This journey isn’t just about pushing forward—it’s about transformation. No matter how difficult your Lent journey feels right now, God is using this season to shape you into someone stronger, wiser, and more like Christ. If you feel like you’ve stumbled, take heart—Jesus Himself fell under the weight of the cross, yet He got back up. Keep walking, keep pressing on. Victory is waiting on the other side.
Conclusion
The spiritual desert is never easy. The heat is relentless, and the winds are scorching, yet those who persevere through the wilderness are transformed and experience victory.
Lawrence of Arabia never turned back from his mission, He was rejected, yet found belonging. He endured hardship, yet pressed forward. He risked everything to save the lost, yet never counted the cost. He spoke the truth, yet faced opposition. He remained composed, yet bore every insult with patience.
Jesus also persevered in his own wilderness. He was rejected by His own, yet He came to bring salvation. He walked through the wilderness, hungry, weary, and tempted, yet He did not waver. He left no one behind, seeking out the lost and the broken. He spoke the truth, even when it led Him to the cross. In the face of pain and suffering, He did not respond with wrath, but with humility, grace, and forgiveness.
This is how Lent is and this what Lent will entail for us:
- A journey of endurance: when fasting, sacrifice, and prayer feel heavy.
- A journey of truth: when we must confront the sin in our hearts.
- A journey of love: when we are called to seek and restore the lost.
- A journey of humility: when we must lay down pride and let God reshape us.
At some point, like Lawrence and just like Jesus, you will have a choice to make. Turn back or press forward?
This journey is not easy, but it is necessary. The desert is not meant to be a place of comfort, we are meant to travel through it, allowing it to refine us. The cross you carry is not supposed to be light or easy to carry, but it leads to salvation.
What will you choose to leave behind in the wilderness, and who will you become when you reach the other side?
The desert is not the end of the journey—it is the preparation for what’s to come.
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