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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD
Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue # 171 June 17, 2001
DROUGHT
It had rained steadily for several hours and everything seemed to be thoroughly drenched. There were small puddles forming in the low spots and the rain was running down the gutters like little rivers.
Just before retiring for bed, I looked out the window into the back yard. The ground underneath the two spruce trees was as dry as a bone. Everything around it was wet and lush, but this ground seemed to groan and cry out to share in part of the water.
We have all gone through times like that in our life, where we seem to be in spiritual or emotional deserts. We look at those around us and they seem to be blessed and we are under intense pressure, groaning for relief.
We cry out for God and He doesn’t seem to be listening. We look to others, but they don’t seem to understand what we are going through. We don’t even know how to express what we are in need of.
Sometimes it happens because we have turned away from God in pursuit of other things. Sometimes it is because God has called us to do something and we refuse to listen.
Perhaps it is because of unrepentant sin in our lives. Maybe we have hardened our hearts to Him and others.
Sometimes there is a lesson we need to learn. Frankly sometimes, only God Himself understands why we are going through a drought.
We need to turn to God in those times and seek His face. To give up those things which have distracted us and take us away from Him. To ask Him to show us what we need to be learning. To ask for His strength to ride out the drought.
When we have done those things, we need to find the joy of knowing Him regardless of our circumstances. He is still there with us, even in the desert times.
He walked with Israel the 40 years they wandered in the desert. He was with David in the physical deserts and spiritual droughts of his life.
He is beside you as you struggle with your desert. In His time He promises:
"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.
I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together,
so that people may see and know, may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Isaiah 41:17-20 NIV
He is not just speaking here of physical water, but of His living water
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17 NIV
As you pass through the drought seek Him and His living water.
Until next time, may you be filled to overflowing with streams of His living water.
God bless.
Kevin
If you are in the midst of a drought, and don’t know this Jesus who satisfies with living water, email me. I’ll share a few Bible verses that show why you need to know Him and a prayer that will make it possible.
Let Him satisfy your thirst.
© 2001 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin
All Rights Reserved