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Last month I spoke briefly of my mission trip to Arizona shortly after my husband’s death. There were many lessons learned on that adventure. I want to share with you, as Paul Harvey would say, the rest of the story!

One morning during my quiet time with the Lord, He led me to Isaiah 41:17-18 (ESV).

When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them;
I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
and the dry land springs of water.

As I read verse 17 I made an immediate connection. I could relate to phrases like poor and needy and parched with thirst. No matter how hard I tried to find joy and purpose, something to give refreshment and life again; it all seemed so hopeless.

Hope sprung off the page as I read the promises God gave Israel.

God’s first promise to the Israelites is that He will answer and will not leave them. Like us, the nation of Israel needed frequent reminders of this promise. (Duet 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5, 9; I Chronicles 28:20; Isaiah 41:10)

Widowhood is such a lonely season of life. Family and friends get on with their lives and at times it even feels like God has left us. But we are not alone in our despair and sorrow! Our God is standing right beside us, preparing the way for us to follow, and protecting us from harm.

In verse 18, He promises to bring rivers to the desert, fountains to the valleys, pools of water in the wilderness, and to turn dry land into springs of water.

What seems impossible to us, is possible with God!

As I reflected on this verse hope sprung up in me! Through His Word, I heard the Lord tell me that even though my life feels dry and parched, He would bring life back to it.

I continued my quiet time in prayer asking the Lord to help me soak Him in, receive His love, and strengthen me to keep looking forward with renewed hope; looking back only long enough to remember the blessings and not the sorrow.

As I finished praying, I continued to leaf through Isaiah when I came across a passage highlighted in my Bible, Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV).

Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland

It was time to get ready, time to move forward. God was doing a new thing! In my grief, I sensed the Lord telling me I could not stay there. I needed to trust God to “turn the desert (my grief and broken heart) into pools of water (refreshment and renewal). He would be right there with me!

In my opinion, it is no coincidence that all of this took place while I was sitting in the Arizona desert.

I knew the Lord wanted me to move forward but, for me, that was easier said than done. Consequently, my transition from the desert to the land of flowing waters took several more years.

Through it all, though, I held all of these promises close to my heart, trusting that He who gave the promise was able to keep the promise!

I had more healing to do but God was patient with me. As a result, I can honestly say that today He has turned my desert into pools of water! And He can do the same for you. Therefore, lean in and let him speak His promises over you and then stand in faith that He will keep His promises.

Lord, I pray that the dry and parched life of widowhood will once again flow with rivers and springs of living water for my widow sisters. You, Lord, are that living water and the only water that can truly satisfy. Help us to cling to You and to Your promises in Your Word!