Desolate

The word desolate has a few different meanings. It can mean barren, solitary, forlorn, dismal, or deserted. To me, this picture of a salt pan in Botswana looks desolate. There is nothing but hard packed dirt for as far as the eye can see in places like this. 

Sometimes my spirit feels desolate. If a heart surgeon were to open me up at times like that he might not find anything but hard packed dirt inside (or maybe not). But seriously, there are moments and places in our lives where we feel solitary, dismal, or deserted. Perhaps it's because of how someone we love has treated us. Perhaps it's because of circumstances that always seem to be going against us and beating us down. Perhaps it is even because we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to well up inside of us with a spring of living water like He promised. The only chance a desert has of getting any greenery to sprout up or plants to take root is if it gets sufficient water. Likewise, it is the living water of Jesus which is our only hope for growth and life. 

So whenever I see a desert I think "Wow, this place could use some water." Then when I see a person with a parched soul I think "Wow, this person needs Jesus to give them new life." But let's not fool ourselves. I can become a parched soul too if I quench the Spirit as 1 Thessalonians 5:19 talks about. An occasional rain in the desert does no real good. It takes good steady rains that come consistently for a long time to bring about any change to desolate salt pans. I also need consistent time in God's Word and in prayer with Him to be the fruitful follower that He wants me to be. 

Instead of living in desolation, I choose to dwell in the land of milk and honey - the only oasis in this dry and dying world.