“The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isa. 58:11
Lord Jesus, last summer I watched as a freshwater spring began flowing into an 18-feet deep, pond-shaped hole in the ground, 40 minutes from White Sulphur Springs, Montana. This meager beginning was witnessed by a smoked-hazed sky, rainless days, parched fields, and thirsty animals.
Two weeks ago, when I visited my friends’ ranch, the visual contrast with last year’s “brown out” was refreshingly stark. A lush green landscape, clear blue skies, and 15 frolicking elk served up an eye-candy feast. Isaiah’s wondrously sensate vision of satisfaction in the scorched places and unfailing waters came to life for me.
Jesus, these past few years have felt like life in a thirsty, scorched world—literally and metaphorically. But you get the last chapter, last sentence, last word, and final period. The flourishing of flora, fauna, people, and places are guaranteed by your resurrection and return. Even now, you are giver of living water, passionately appealing to our relentless thirst (John 4:14; 7:38; Rev. 21:6).
In a dry and weary land where there is no water, you bring it. Into the scorched places, you send us. In our deepest thirst, you satisfy us. Jesus, because your waters never fail, we live with hope, and love by faith. O for the Day the entire earth will become a well-watered garden. May it be soon, So Very Amen.