Withered and Parched

Isaiah 58:11, "And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."

Mr. John Sale preached on this verse last night at the evening session of the pastor's conference at CBC. I must say, I'd never really seen this verse before, but when Mr. Sale read it, my heart melted and my walls came down. This verse found me exactly where I am...in "scorched places". And needless to say, there were some tears.

Here are some definitions of scorched, according to Dictionary.com

• To wither or parch with intense heat.
• To destroy (land and buildings) by or as if by fire so as to leave nothing salvageable to an enemy army.

I've been undergoing a series of trials--physical pain, stress, and disappointment. In the heat of trial's fire, I've at times suffered the devastating loss of hope, and it has left me withered and parched. Sometimes I wonder how I even got out the door and carried on through my day. I often feel destroyed and unsalvageable, like the ruins of an ancient city that have nothing to offer but an example of the desolation and emptiness of failure and a display of damage for tourists to take pictures in front of.

It was such a balm to my weary, aching heart to hear this verse last night! Not only is the Lord guiding me through these trials, but He Himself will satisfy my desires and replace all that I lost with more of Himself. He'll strengthen what's weak in me. He'll revive me with His unfailing spring of living water.

What a fantastic promise! Despite my brokenness, I can cling to the knowledge that this scorched place will become a watered garden. This desert of disappointment will be a paradise of God's grace--to God be the glory!