Water Springs in the Desert

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.  As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autums rains also cover it with pools.  They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion" (Psalm 84:5-6)

I'll be honest that the last couples of months of been a bit rough. It seems like one problem after another came my way and my family's way.  To be quite honest, in the midst of it all, I've been facing a bit of a dry spell spiritually.  Like I've said in previous posts, we go through different seasons that are meant to mold us and make us stronger. This is such a season. I was encouraged as I read the beautiful portion of scripture above this morning. My curiousity got the best of me and I did a little research on my lunch hour.  The Valley of Baca is known as the Valley of Lamentations or the Valley of Weeping. Its a desert area that was known for very little rainfall- or a dry valley. Sound familiar?   Spiritually, we all go through that dry valley in our lives. If you haven't yet, you eventually will. Yet there is no reason to fear or despair.  It is in this place of our lives where there are some of the greatest blessings. The scripture above shows that in the midst of a that dry place, God makes it a place of springs and allows the autumn rains to fall or cover it with pools of water. You see, as we walk through this place in our lives, sometimes our tears are all that we have.  I truly believe that God uses these tears to water the seeds of promise in our lives. It is these tears that cover this desert place or valley, empowering us with more of God's strength, as the scripture says, "they go from strength to strength."  Our tears are forming the water springs and rains that will be used to bless our lives.  Remember, God will always provide a spring of water in your desert. I recall the story of Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 21:14-20).  Sarah had angrily sent Hagar away with her son into the Wilderness of Beersheba.  Hagar and her son eventually ran out of water.  The Bible says that Hagar stood afar off from her son and was prepared to watch him die from thirst. We read that God sent an Angel who told her that God had heard her son's cry. Then the Angel opened Hagar's eyes and she saw a well of water. She was able to give her son to drink which saved his life. God did it so that the promise over his life could be fulfilled.  Isn't it awesome that God provided a well in Hagar's desert? He cared what happened to her and her son even if no one else did.
God will always provide a spring or a well for us in the spiritual deserts of our lives. At the end of this desert, we end up knowing God in such a greater, powerful way. As I write this, I feel such an assurance that God is about to allow the rains of promise fall soon. He sees us and has not forgotten us.  I feel that God is about to do the same for you too. Let us wait in expectation as we watch God transform a spiritual desert into a place where we are saturated with Him and all of Him.  :) 

April