A Road in the Wilderness

Guess who! I doubt anyone checks this much anymore since I haven't been writing much... or at all :). But I have had people asking, "Are you alive out there? Are you ok?" So the wonderful answer is YES! I'm alive and ok, but I will admit I have had a rough month or two.

From the minute Jeni decided to go to Hungary, I knew this year would be rough- I think God really prepared my heart by at least giving me a heads up. And I also knew that the hard times would be a stronger character in me and bring me closer to the Lord. So before it all began, I was all for it. And then "it" started. "It" was loneliness and it's no friend of mine, let me tell you. I knew that I don't like to be lonely, but I didn't know I was going to freak out so much. But even in the hardest of days, I knew for a fact that God was showing me that He can be my everything. I have such a tendency to run to people for support and although that's not bad, I should be running to God first. And through this time I have found that He is faithful. He is loving and kind and merciful and I've never felt for a second abandoned by Him. This is a huge, huge lesson for me.

God gave me this chapter in Isaiah and the part I have clung to is the verse about God showing me a new thing. He has grown my faith and prayer life so much! And also the part about making a road in the wilderness and rivers in a desert. Hard times in our lives feel like wildernesses and deserts, seeming to have no end in sight. But its at these times, God meets us and makes that road and river. For me, my circumstances are still the same. I'm still pretty lonely, but God has refreshed me with His living waters and given me a sense of hope that surpasses this difficult time.

So I am doing well! Living each day by God's grace and learning more about Him. I do not like this fiery time, but I am rejoicing that I know my God will bring me through it and is with me every step along the way.


Isaiah 43

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And gather you from the west;
I will say to the north, Give them up!
And to the south, Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.
Bring out the blind people who have eyes,
And the deaf who have ears.
Let all the nations be gathered together,
And let the people be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
And show us former things?
Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified;
Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.
You are My witnesses, says the LORD,

And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
I, even I, am the LORD,
And besides Me there is no savior.
I have declared and saved,
I have proclaimed,
And there was no foreign god among you;
Therefore you are My witnesses,”
Says the LORD, that I am God.
Indeed before the day was, I am He;
And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I work, and who will reverse it?”
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:

“ For your sake I will send to Babylon,
And bring them all down as fugitives
The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.
I am the LORD, your Holy One,
The Creator of Israel, your King.”
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,
Who brings forth the chariot and horse,
The army and the power
(They shall lie down together, they shall not rise;
They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):
Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
The beast of the field will honor Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because I give waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.
This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall declare My praise.