Just a drop and the earth is
resurrected anew! A little drink and the grass is sprouting like
spring! For so long we've waited for a refreshment. But I have to
admit, I wondered aloud time and again whether the land could bounce
back from such neglect. Now there's proof that so little rain in such
a short amount of time has already made such a marvelous difference!
For me, these are signs that God is
still on the throne --signs that God cares for His world and His
people. Mysteriously, life continues even when we can't see it. Under
the dusty, hard, barren land remained a wellspring of life, waiting
to surface! He created it to be so from the beginning.
“Then God said, 'Let the land
produce vegetation...and it was so...And God saw that it was good.”
(Genesis 1:11-12)
Like most of the land that's lain
parched this summer, I've been feeling a little dry myself lately.
Some of my drought-like conditions developed from dwelling on
what-ifs and fearful worry over politics, money and all things
worldly. The troubles of this world often leave me dried up and
discouraged.
The Lord offers a remedy. He says, “If
a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in
me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from
within him.” (John 7:37)
Just like the creek that holds deep
pools of water when every other stream has ceased to flow, inside of
the believer remains a pure trickle that neither doubt, nor anxiety
can evaporate. There remains a bottomless spring that drought cannot
dehydrate. Even a steady dumping of crime, corruption and craziness
crammed down our throats from pathetic news sources can't cease its
continuous current. I call it the River of Hope. You may recognize it
in your life as Living Water or the Wellspring of Life. When you feel
dry, the best way out of the drought is to let it bubble forth!
“Because of the Lord's great love we
are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every
morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my
portion; therefore I will wait for him.'
“The Lord is good to those whose
hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord...For men are not cast off by the Lord
forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is
his unfailing love.” (Lamentations 3:22-26, 31-32)
This is the God I serve! One who sees
the sin and suffering. One who knows the hearts of every individual
and longs to be our filling. He is good to those who pursue Him and
right here with us when we fail Him. We just may not always see it.
Still, I must ask whether I mistakenly
blame God when times get tough; or more accurately do I blame myself for becoming lazy in the pursuit of holiness and His help. When the
landscape of my life looks cracked and cavernous, it's time for a
dribble of renewal. I need his drops of mercy to bring forth new
growth and joy. I'm pretty sure it's going to take a little lightning
and thunder to start the process – an awakening and acknowledgment
that I need to get down on my knees in order to get filled back up.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under
God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your
anxiety on him because he cares for you.
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your
enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone
to devour. Resist him standing firm in the faith, because you know
that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind
of sufferings.
“And the God of all grace, who
called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a
little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and
steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter
5:6-11)
I can feel the grass greening in my
soul already!
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