"I will rejoice and be glad in Your steadfast love, Because You have seen my affliction; You have taken note of my life's distresses."
Psalm 31:7 AMP
Did you read the title? Yes. It's true.
I have been decluttering an overabundance of accumulated things. Amongst the boxes of "I don't know what to do with" stuff, I found photo of a sidewalk crack with a daisy growing in it. I remember snapping that photo. When I saw it, I had to smile, and wonder, how did you get there? It's amazing the places plants can grow in.
It's even more amazing the wilderness places of my heart where joy can bloom. I have been feeling drained, exhausted, and unmotivated. There has been a lot to take care of with my mom, and there have been too many sleepless nights. And in those times, I often seem to isolate myself. Sometimes it hurts too much to think. Yet in the midst of what has seemed like a desert with no oasis in sight, the Lord has met me there in that wilderness place with His love.
One of the sweetest blessings that continually brings my heart joy is my mom's response to short devotions and verses. She gets them. She told me the other night, "I just need the Lord more and more." Don't we all? But her words held such weightiness, because many of the words she strings together don't make sense. She forgets part way through what she is talking about and completely changes the subject. Yet when I read her a short paragraph of a devotion and a couple Bible verses, she speaks clearly about what they mean to her. Her faith is strong, and she can't seem to get enough of the Word. That is a joy blooming in the wilderness of my heart.
There is so much grieving and mindset shifting in watching parents age, but the Lord sees what we're going through, He takes note of our distresses, and He blesses. His steadfast love lifts our hearts. and He plants seeds of joy within. I think all too often we miss those sweet moments that He means as a balm for our heartache. Our eyes stay focused on how we feel and what needs to be done. But He hasn't left our side. He is with us.
Another joy blooming in my wilderness place, is learning to take my eyes off of me and focus on others. There is so much suffering and heartache around. There are so many needs surrounding us. For a while I was really struggling with making time for intercession. I was too tired. I felt so weighed down by everything I needed to bring to the Lord about what was happening in my life, that I didn't have the words to pray for others. But in that struggle, the Lord seemed to multiply loved ones around me with prayer needs, needs that really burdened my heart. And, to my surprise, as I began pouring my heart out to the Lord about the many needs of others, I felt joy blooming in my heart. What a privilege to lift those hurts and fears to the Lord.
As I prayed, He brought verses to mind, giving me the words to pray back to Him. He showed me lessons I needed to learn as He worked in the lives of others. Lessons about trust and His faithfulness. Lessons about fears and His presence. Lessons ab
out love and how it is shown in His sovereignty. He fed the emptiness of my heart, as it felt as if I had given everything within, with the hope only He can give. He showed me joy can bloom in wilderness places.
Have you too experienced joy blooming in your wilderness places? If not, begin looking for the daisy growing in the crack of the sidewalk. Look for His steadfast love touching your life as only He can do.
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