Faith During the Dry Times

In case you hadn't noticed, real life isn't like "home on the range," where "never is heard a discouraging word." Discouraging words? They seem to be everywhere. Just turn on your TV or read the newspaper. Listen to the whines of your pessimistic coworker who can find the downside of any situation, or the irritating radio talk-show host who thrives on controversy.

Unfortunately, sometimes you hear discouraging words at church, too—when preachers proclaim their own anger instead of God's grace, and when church members who lack faith dampen the spirits of others.

Just the aggravations of daily living can be disheartening. As I drove home from church on a recent Sunday, my car was hit from the rear while I sat at a stop light. The bright side? No one was badly hurt. The other driver admitted his fault, and insurance will pay for the damages. But I was left with a backache and major repairs to make on a used car I had bought only a few days before.

Discouraging? Yes. Unusual? No. While we live on this sin-scarred planet, God doesn't guarantee us immunity from accidents, poor health, financial stress, and emotional struggles. Each of us probably could write a long list of frustrations we've encountered this week alone, not to mention all the hassles we encounter over a lifetime. Life isn't fair—but God is. And if we persevere and do the will of God, we "will receive what he has promised" (Hebrews 10:36).

Recently I found encouragement from an event recorded in Exodus chapter 15.

After God led the Israelites out of Egypt through the divided waters of the Red Sea, the people celebrated with dancing and songs of praise led by Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. But if they assumed they'd sing and dance all the way to the promised land, they were wrong. Immediately afterward, they traveled three days in the desert without finding water. That's a long time to go thirsty. Their spiritual "high" quickly turned to a spiritual "dry."

When they finally found something to drink at a place called Marah, the water was undrinkably bitter—Marah means "bitter"—so the people began to grumble. But God showed Moses a piece of wood, and when he threw it into the water, the water became sweet. Then God reminded the people to be faithful and obedient—to "listen carefully to the voice of the Lord . . . do what is right in his eyes" . . . "pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees." Despite their bitter circumstances, they could still trust God and do right. After all, God assured them, "I am the Lord, who heals you."

Immediately afterward, the Israelites "came to Elim, where there were 12 springs and 70 palm trees, and they camped there near the water" (Exodus 15:27). Think of it! 12 springs—one for each tribe of Israel to enjoy. 70 palm trees—one for each elder. After three days of discouragement in the desert, they camped at a place that sounds like a Florida beach. God led them from a bitter place to a better place. And archaeologists tell us that Elim's springs and palm trees were only a short distance—about a day's journey—from Marah where the water was bitter. When times seemed most desperate, God's remedy was only one day away.

During the dry and bitter times, we need to remember that God is "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3).

Don't give up. God's remedy may be only one day away.