Hope in the Desert Place
Our God gives us beauty for ashes and the oil of joy instead of a spirit of despair. In the hard and desert places He woos us, speaks tenderly to us, and make our valleys of trouble into a door of hope.
”Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the desert
and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will sing as in the days of her youth,
as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
“In that day” declares the Lord, “you will call me my husband; you will no longer call me ‘my master’. Hosea 2:14-16
Dear Father, We thank you that during our hard times you do not leave us alone. We are comforted to know you lead us to the desert. We are never out there alone. Thank you for the tender, ind words you speak to us there. They are balm to our souls. Thank you for restoring our fruitfulness and for the beautiful paradox of making the valley of our trouble a door of hope instead. Fill our mouths with a New Song, a song of celebration and victory. Lord we no longer serve you as slaves, but partner with you as a team! What a strong, dear husband You are to your Bride. We love you so much. In Jesus Name, Amen.
