Flourishing in the Desert (Part One)
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 KJV
In the middle of the vastness of the desert, there was a tree with bright green leaves. This made me take special notice because it meant that this tree was alive and strong. I found this very strange because it was planted in a desert where for many kilometers there was no other vegetation. There was only that one tree, there in the middle of the fine dry sand being beaten by the burning desert sun and by the extreme cold at night.
This tree is an example of resilience. Resilience is the capacity to face the difficulties and crises of life, overcome them and continue to move forward. This, which goes beyond merely surviving, means emerging victorious despite the difficulties that life throws at us.
This image made me think about the many people who are going through difficult times, much like walking through a desert. Maybe it’s your dear friend, or maybe it’s you. Maybe you are going through financial difficulties, or you don’t have a clear path to follow. Maybe you are experiencing a lack of some kind or tired of the extreme situations that arise every day, or any other issues that have made you feel alone and helpless. Maybe you’re unsure of what to do next or you think you will end up worse than before and you’ve been losing hope.
But today I want to tell you that God makes roads in the desert and that rivers of His presence will give you the courage to continue. He will sustain you, help you, and support you so that you can make it out of the desert victoriously. Remember that the Holy Spirit will show you the way to go. He opens roads in the desert and rivers in solitude.
Our next article will give you tips on how to emerge from the crisis or the desert that you are currently living in.
Dr. Miguel and Irene Garita
Family Care Ministry
Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region
