“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
– I Peter 4:12, 13

In Texas, we are known for our incredibly hot summers, high humidity and this year is certainly no exception. Just this weekend, Karen and I took a little trip to Granbury, TX which is about a three and a half hour drive west from where we live. While we did have a great time getting away, spending time together and enjoying some great driving scenery, we certainly did not escape the scorching heat. At one point, I looked down at the temperature readout on the instrument panel and it read a blistering 110 degrees! We had been sitting still for just a few minutes to plan our next destination but I quickly told Karen, we’ve got to get moving somewhere to cool this engine down or our current location might just be our final destination for this road trip.

While reflecting on this heatwave recently, I thought about a song that came out from a group named Whiteheart back around 1990. The song was titled “Desert Rose” and it basically spoke about the dry seasons that we as believers sometimes go through.

“Lost in a windswept land
In a world of shifting sand
A fragile flower stands apart
There in that barren ground
Feel like the only one
Trying to serve Him with all your heart
And you wonder, you wonder
Can you last much longer?
This cloud you are under
Will it cover you?”

Have you felt like this my friend? I can certainly testify that I have. Yes, I have surely felt the dry, blistering lonely days in my own life. The times such as these lyrics speak of that yes, you do wonder if God is anywhere to be found and why is He choosing to be silent when you’re crying out in desperation for relief. Why does He choose to delay in bringing you into a place of refreshing waters once again?

“Sometimes holiness
Can seem like emptiness
When you feel the whole world’s laughing eyes
If it’s a lonely day
Know you’re on the Father’s way
He will hear you when you cry
And He will hold you, hold you
Your Father will hold you
He will love you, love you
For the things you do”

Yes, be very confident my dear friend that your heavenly Father knows, sees and hears exactly where you are right now if you are struggling with a time of loneliness, despair, depression, and just a sense that God has abandoned you. Don’t give in and listen to the lies of the enemy for greater is He which is in you that he that is in the world. (I John 4:4) When I have experienced these dry seasons in my own life, I have heard God deep down in my spirit whispering to me that “I am Here”, “Trust Me”, “I will surely see you through and deliver you”. Please know friend that God will never leave nor abandon you and is committed to seeing you through every trial and dry season in your life. And I believe with all my heart that you too will look back one day and testify as I can now and see how you grew from these dry seasons and be able to bring more glory and honor to your Father above for you truly are His…His desert rose.

“Desert rose, desert rose
Don’t you worry, don’t be lonely
Heaven knows, Heaven knows
In a dry and weary land a flower grows
His desert rose, His desert rose”

For His Kingdom,