Sometimes we talk about deserts and we also relate it in a spiritual way in the life of a person as a punishment but not all deserts represent a place of punishment, let's see the following verse:
Hosea 2:14
14 But behold, I will draw her and carry her into the wilderness, and speak to her heart.
(RVR1960)
For example, in the aforementioned verse, desert does not represent a place of punishment, but a place where privacy is enjoyed since God wanted his people to have an encounter with him of reflections and depth about the true relationship they had with him.
Let us remember that this people, that is, the people of Israel was a stubborn and disobedient adulterous people who were contaminated by worshiping other gods as is the case of worshiping a false god called "Baal" and they went after adultery and fornication but God who is mercy calls his people back and forgives and restores them through his call by taking them to the desert simply so that these people would reflect in their hearts about the way they had sinned against the God of the universe.
If today you find yourself in a desert it is necessary that you reflect in your heart what the kind of desert you are living is like, it is important that you can meditate on God's mercy for your life and all the opportunities that he gives you as your creator.