Streams in the Desert

While L.B. Cowman's husband was very ill she wrote her famous devotional book. I am not one to enjoy the daily devotional books, because they are usually short and don't stick with me. However, "Streams in the Desert" is unlike any devotional I've ever read. I've actually already read it once, but I'm going through it again. I feel like this book was written for ME. Not kidding- sometimes the passages relate to what I'm going through so much, it's eery.

The title of the devotional comes from Isaiah 35:6 which says,

" Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert..."

What encouragement this has brought me. I relish and meditate on this verse like it is my life. Even while I am in the wilderness, there will be blessings! The wilderness is a desolate and dark place, but I am not forsaken. If I claim to be a child of God, then nothing can separate me from Him. He will still comfort and love me even while I am being tested. There is no place that I can go and be without having God's grace right behind me....especially when I am doing His work and obeying His commands.

To go along with that- I have to remind myself not to let other people's lack of struggles discourage me. Pain and struggles are a sign of growth. When your friends seem like they are just floating through life without a scratch, it causes jealousy. I know what that feels like. It's a very hard place to be, because you don't think anyone can relate to you. Wear your time in the wilderness like a hero and allow it to grow you. You'll come out with scars, but then the world can see where you've been, and the evidence that our God still uses us.