Casandra Martin

We need rain. Badly. I live in south Texas, and we are in the middle of a major drought. Where I live, it has only rained once in the last 161 days. The grass has withered, the trees are dying, and the landscape has become a monochrome panorama of desperate thirst. There were no fireworks on the Fourth of July. The entire area is under a burn ban. Neighbors look at the sky, talking about the need for moisture. Fires blaze across farm land, destroying crops, homes, and dreams.

The land is thirsty. The ground is cracked and dusty. The leaves on the trees hang in weary frustration as they yearn for water. Record temperatures scorch the sky. The water holes have all dried up. Birds and animals are struggling in the heat. Growth has become impossible.

At this point, it doesn’t take an expert to look around the neighborhood and tell who has invested in watering their yard. Most of the lawns carry a dry, faded look. The grass crunches under your feet. There is nothing inviting or compelling about the landscape. A few yards, however, are emerald. There is a lushness about these spaces that draws your eyes and your soul. Plants are thriving, flowers are blooming, and everything looks healthy. The quiet stillness of these yards invite growth and send a longing straight through your heart.

“I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.” – Psalm 143:6.

The drought-ravaged land has the ability to serve as a mirror for our souls. Does my heart ache for God with the same intensity as the land thirsts for rain? Do I look into the heavens for His movement as frequently as we scan the sky for rainclouds? Can others look at my life and see the evidence of God’s reign?

My Jesus Resolution today is to drink deeply of God’s living water. The ground around me may be parched and thirsty, but my soul can dive into the deep well of His grace. I want to claim the promise found in Jeremiah 17:7-8. Trusting in God will plant me firmly in His abundance and set me free from the fear and devastation of drought. I am going to let my longing for rain pull my heart deeper into His reign.