I stirred the soil beneath the geranium leaves, then poured refreshing water, bathing the dying leaves and parched soil in life-giving liquid.

My geranium sat neglected. Difficult life circumstances had taken priority and now the once lush and bountiful geranium looked … sad. Yellowed leaves edged in crumbly brown. Flowers, once plentiful, now barely raised their heads in search of their missing container-mates.

The soil had become crusty. Hard. Void of life-sustaining nutrients.

This Thirsty Geranium Was Much Like Me

Much like a child of God finding herself in a desert wilderness at the base of the mountain, rather than soaring from its peak.

Looking up from the desert place toward the mountain of God, do I pray for rain?

Looking up from the desert place toward the mountain of God, do I pray for rain? Do I ask the God of all mercy to pour out His grace on me and restore me to life abundantly? That’s what He wants from me. He only asks that I ask with expectation — full of trust that He will hear me from heaven and respond.

Lay it out there — brokenness, disappointments, complacency brought on by thirst.

And then let Him. Let Him take what is broken and make it whole.

Ann Voskamp said it best, “When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin and deep crevices, life grows.”

I stirred the soil beneath the geranium leaves, then poured refreshing water, bathing the dying leaves and parched soil in life-giving liquid. Overflow streamed from the bottom. Grabbing a spray bottle, I spritzed the thirsty plant with moisture and apologized for my neglect.

And then I smiled.

As Sure as the Sunrise, My Geranium Had Perked Up

I smiled as I thought of the parallel to life when times are hard.

And I thought about the faithfulness of God to pour out the rain of His grace abundantly on our dry and thirsty hearts.

Like the geranium, I drank deeply of His Living Water.

The next morning I peeked through the living room window as the sunrise broke over the ridge top, painting the sky in coral blush. Just as sure as the sunrise, my geranium had perked up overnight as it drank deeply of the water I provided.

I’m now drinking deep of the Water the Lord is providing. No longer am I parched in the desert heat.

He is my shade. He is my Living Water.

He is my wings that lift me to the mountaintop where I can soar once again.

Selah

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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.

Sweet blessings to you,

NAN