"The desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wastelands. The desert will sing and shout for joy; it will be as beautiful as the Lebanon Mountains and as fertile as the fields of Carmel and Sharon. Everyone will see the Lord's splendor, see his greatness and power. Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness. Tell everyone who is discouraged, "Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue,..."
I don't know about you but these verses in Isaiah make me feel strong and make my heart glad because I know that God has and will always come to my rescue. In the dry dormant seasons of life when winter begins to freeze the earth around us; we can begin to focus on the spiritual scenery in our lives as well. When the world becomes void of the vivid colors that the great artist has displayed for us throughout summer and fall we can begin to see things as bleak and without hope but Praise God that his very word tells us that the flowers will bloom in the wastelands.
Some of you reading this may say, Heather... I love winter what are you talking about? Praise God for my winter loving friends. I think you see a beauty in nature that not all of us can see and focus on, but I'm getting there. I know this is a great shock to many who know me personally as winter has often felt like a prison to me. It has frozen me in my tracks and many times I've felt that perhaps I should have, as they say, been born a bear and just wake up in the spring after a long winter's nap. But in all seasons, ALL SEASONS, we bloom. Did you know that there are some flowers that break through during the winter season such as the Star of Bethlehem? Imagine that... the star of Bethlehem emerges just as we begin to see all else fade away. The irony of that isn't lost on me, how about you?
Although we are entering winter here in the United States, we can rest in knowing that God tells us that he will continue to strengthen us and give life even during the seasons that seem nothing but a vast desert land. God is always with us, he never leaves us and he never forsakes us. When you feel like you've hit the desert sands... Praise Him. When you feel the valley has no waters left to draw from, Praise Him. Our God is bigger than our deserts and has living waters that will never run dry and he will see you through your season.
Do you feel like you have landed in the middle of the arctic and see no hope in site? Do you feel like life is just an empty wasteland swallowing you up and taking all away from you? Be like the Star of Bethlehem... break free and bloom right where you are inspite of the conditions and let the Son shine through you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hjRLfvf0xg
Be Strong and Don't be Afraid,
Heather
