A Song of Quickening

I am the granddaughter of two life-long farmers. Waving wheat fields thrill my soul with memories of time with my grandparents. There is nothing more beautiful to me than seeing those golden stalks lift their heads in the summer sun.

Those waving wheat fields, though, have been waning in recent years. Kansas and many other states have been struggling with drought. The same amount of work is involved, sometimes more, to yield much less than normal. The same amount of cost is required with much less income produced. One farmer described it this way:

“Commodity prices are up, that is great for us, right? No. Not when we aren’t even confident to contract any crops due to the fact, we aren’t sure they will even bushel out. Our lawn is dead. Trees are struggling. Cracks in our ground. Milo which is more drought tolerant is now done and burning up. Dryland has been dead and burning up since July on our farm (which is all no till and has the best chance with the conserved water we have had), the cobs aren’t even anything. Irrigated ground is even struggling to keep up with the heat we have had this summer. Not to mention they have run nonstop. Our home well is blowing air now as its running so low. The corn acres in the area are being chopped or baled as no one things it would make it to grain harvest. Harvest yields will be so minimal if anything. To say it is depressing is a very large understatement.” [1]

No amount of work can produce a harvest unless much needed rain falls. The news reports the problem as climate change, but for those who believe in a God who created and sustains all things, we know that He is the giver and withholder of rain.

He watereth the hills from his chambers:
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. Psalm 104:13

Our church has sought the Lord many times to send rain for our farmers. We are so thankful that He does. To be dependent on Him is no small blessing; to cry out to Him is necessary for our spiritual growth.

The Psalms speak often of a spiritual drought. Have you been there when no amount of praying seems to yield a harvest? Have cracks ever marred your dry heart and God’s voice seemed small and far away?

As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:
when shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2

There are times when drought is caused by empty pursuits that are not from Him. Drought can be caused by outright sin. But often, I think drought is just part of the natural rhythms of life. Just like in the physical realm when people band together to ask God for His life sustaining rain, when our spiritual lives run dry, we need to run to the Lord to ask for relief and seek out others who will pray for us.

When the rain comes, it is so welcome, so refreshing; it becomes a beautiful time of renewal and joy.

Anything which leads us to cry unto God is a blessing to us. –Charles Spurgeon

The devil so often assures us that our prayers cannot claim an answer because of the dryness of our souls. Answers to prayer, however, do not depend upon our feelings, but upon the trustworthiness of the Promiser. –The Kneeling Christian

If your spiritual life is feeling dry and arid, like mine often does, Jesus bids us “come and drink of the water of life freely.” Bring your burdens and leave them at His feet. Welcome His searching light to drive out the darkness. Ask for His refreshing fountain to flow over the parched ground of your soul. No need to continue in a desert when the everlasting well springs as close as His Word to your hand.

Psalm 119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust:
quicken thou me according to thy word.

I am praying for those who the Lord brings upon this post. If there is any way I can pray or be a help, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Blessings,

Erica B.

[1] Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) (arcgis.com)