Springs in the Wilderness

I’ve been feeling spiritually dry. God has become a little crowded with all the commitments and activities in my life. I was lamenting this fact in my diary yesterday morning, when I opened my Bible to Isaiah 41. I’ve read that chapter before, and even highlighted a section, so I thought I knew what it was talking about. But then I came to this:

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in the high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: that they may see, and know and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it. Isaiah 41:17-20

I felt like God was talking directly to me. Those words poor and needy are actually defined as ‘depressed in mind or circumstances’ and ‘a sense of want especially in feeling.’ That’s me. I’m overwhelmed with everything going on, but wanting more, wanting to get closer to God again, and be renewed with enthusiasm for Him and His work.

And what is God’s promise to us poor and needy, depressed and wanting, lacking, overwhelmed, tired? I, the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in the bare places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. It’s a huge comfort to know even when we’re dry and feel far away from God, He still hears us, and never forsakes us. But, He offers so much more here. He will cause rivers in our bare places, fountains right in the middle of our valleys. Our wilderness He’ll turn into a pool, and our dry areas into springs. 

The next couple of verses were really powerful as well. He not only waters our wastelands, He then plants them. And, He doesn’t just plant easy-to-grow shrubs. He promises the cedar tree, olive tree, myrtle tree, fir tree, the box tree; trees that last generations. The only response the people in Isaiah 41 can come up with is that it had to be God.

So I want to encourage you, just as this encouraged me: there is hope, massive amounts of hope. Seek God; He’s there, He hears, and He will turn your valleys and lows, bare and dry places, into rivers, fountains, and springs. He will turn your wilderness into a most powerful testament to His creative power. He’ll plant the once dry corners of your soul, and you’ll only be able to say, it must have been God.

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Have you had an experience of God causing your deserts to flow again? What promises have you been holding onto lately? Where have you been reading in the Bible?