Tuesday With Teri

“Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the Desert.”  Isaiah 43:19

          My sister shared this scripture with me at a difficult time in my life.  Not only was I without a job, but I was unsettled about what type of job I should even be looking for.  I clung to this Word every day.  I wrote it on a scrap of paper and taped it to my bathroom mirror, never thinking how long it would stay there.  I did eventually find a job, and even affirmed God’s calling in my life at the time, but I did not take the verse down.  It stayed on the mirror until we moved out of that house.

          At the time I placed it on that mirror, I did so to remind me to have faith and trust God.  Later those same words would serve to remind me each day that not only does God provide, but He also works in ways far beyond our expectations…I mean, “rivers in a desert”, who would have thought that possible?

          It’s been years since I have had to see that soggy, crumpled, hairspray coated piece of paper in the mirror each morning.  Today, I cannot stop thinking about it.  In our home group we are learning of a place called En Gedi.

          En Gedi is nestled between the western shore of the Dead Sea and the eastern edge of Judea Wilderness.  It is surrounded by dry, barren land.  From rainfall miles away in the mountains of Judea, underground water flows all the way to this surprising oasis.  Water gushes forth from rock and changes everything.  At  En Gedi there is abundant wildlife.  At En Gedi, travelers can find shade and refreshment.

           I like to imagine the glorious surprise this must be to those who are weary and thirsty in the desert.  I think I can imagine it.  I have known deserts, time in life when I felt at a loss, weary, fruitless, aimless, confused, and scared or alone…I have also known God’s provision.  I have seen Him work in my life in ways only He could have.   I have felt His peace in my heart when my situation was far from peaceful.  I have felt the sweet relief of His forgiveness each time I return to Him broken from my own attempts in life.  I know I have a God who will provide  a “roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert”…and yet…some days I sit in a desert, not even looking for His provision.   

          I think today I will rewrite that scripture on a piece of paper and once again tape it to my bathroom mirror.  Every day is a good day to remember, our God WILL provide and our God is able to provide beyond our expectation!