“The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
Isaiah 58:11-12

Oh, this promise. Yesterday, I sat down to meditate on Isaiah 58:11-12. These are verses that have heavily impacted me personally, especially verse 12. However, yesterday as I started praying, receiving, and journaling my way through this Scripture, I couldn’t get out of verse 11.

I wanted to open up my journal to you today. Maybe you can relate and are in the same season?

‘The sun-scorched land that I am in is brutal and unrelenting. I’m parched, crawling on the hot, cracked earth, trying to have enough strength (HOPE) that this desert will eventually end. That one day, I will be in the cool of the garden, not only satisfied but overflowing with water (LIFE) and overflowing in a lush garden where water will continuously flow. LIFE in abundance is guaranteed. Oh, the refreshing. The being. The lack of survival. How glorious! I’m basking in this truth – the guarantee of that promise.

I usually gravitate to the aspects of verse 12, but oh, how I need verse 11. Even though the desert fire can seem deadly, You have guided me here and have promised to satisfy ALL of my needs. Needs and desires are so different, aren’t they, Lord? While my whole being longs for this verse to include my heart’s desires, I praise you, Lord, for your faithfulness to all my needs! I surrender it all to you. I’m going to stay right here in verse 11 for now, and I know You will:

-Guide me

-Satisfy my needs in the desert

-Strengthen my frame

-Turn me into a well-watered garden where the source of LIFE will never fail.

Friends, your promise is LIFE. Your promise is always LIFE. Is there any part of you today that needs to surrender fully to Jesus? To lay down all that you’ve been carrying into the mighty and trustworthy arms of the Father? Anywhere inside of you that needs to exchange unbelief with the truth of His Word and promises?

Stay here and camp out. I’ll be here with you.