Flowers in the Valley

“And not just any old well of water will make these seeds bloom…we need the well of everlasting water that we can only get from Jesus.”

“Beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”  Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

There is a desert close to Las Vegas called Death Valley. This park is famous for the highest temperature ever recorded anywhere in the world. We are talking HOT and DRY. But you know what I find absolutely fascinating about this place? Once every decade, Death Valley has something called a “super bloom”. Deep into the soil of this desert are thousands of seeds. When there’s a specific gentle rain that seeps deep into the ground, a warmer winter, and less harsh desert wind… this miraculous and incredible super bloom will happen. I can’t look at the pictures without tears welling up and thanking God for His creativity and His goodness. 

When I think of Death Valley… I think about our own valleys in life. The lowest of the lows. When we are trudging through, parched and in need of water. But not just any water. We thirst for that specific gentle rain that will seep deep into our souls… warmer winters… and less harsh desert wind. The perfect formula for a super bloom. We have seeds planted that are just waiting to grow and bloom. And we might not be able to see all the seeds, but we can trust that God is working and moving. We can trust that God brings beauty from the most yucky circumstances. God will make us oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor! And not just any old well of water will make these seeds bloom…we need the well of everlasting water that we can only get from Jesus. 

No matter how it looks on the outside…we know He is at work behind the scenes. He will bring beauty from these ashes. 

Action Step: 

• Pull out a piece of paper and write down a few past testimonies. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring things to the forefront of your mind that God has done for you. Answered prayers. Beauty that came from those valleys. After you write those down, think of the valleys you may be in right now. Write them down as if you are in the future, God has answered them, and you are praising Him for working all of those things together for your good!!! Praise Him through the storm! Because we KNOW He will work it out, and He will never fail us!!!

Written by Rachel, homeschool momma of 3