*Originally published April 2020
If you've come. to the end of yourself and earthly comforts no longer satisfy, here's your call to return to Jesus.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, For I give water in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people who I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” Isaiah 43:19-21
The dry, wild, desert seasons in our lives don’t always come through circumstances outside our control. Sometimes, these seasons are ushered in by our own choices and compromises.
This is where we find the Israelites in Isaiah 43. They live in exile after ignoring God’s warnings and calls to repent. They stubbornly persisted in their sin and followed after the gods of other nations.
Exile.
I’ve been there. I’ve had times of buying into the world’s hype about what success and fulfillment should look like. I have chipped away at the God I see in Scripture to try to diminish Him into a tamer God who fits my needs and wants. I have loved the creation more than the Creator.
Thus, we are scattered far from home.
Idolatry comes in all shapes and sizes. But no matter what the idol is, it will lead us to Babylon every single time. Idolatry can look like a self-made man, or an obsession to be seen, liked, and retweeted.
It can come cloaked in a Christian platform in the name of doing good while making sure everyone else knows about it. It can look like fancy cars and designer jeans. It can have the facade of a victim carrying a label of self-pity. It can be the insatiable need for pleasure or more money.
Exile awaits.
Our hand-carved gods will always under-deliver and leave us empty in a desert of our own making, far away from the Promised Land.
Our hand-carved gods will always under-deliver and leave us empty in a desert of our own making, far away from the Promised Land.
God's Promise FulFilled
God comes to His rebellious people in this barren place of exile, through the prophet Isaiah. He brings them the good news that God will gather them and lead them back from where they were scattered.
Right where there seems to be no turning back or any hope for redemption, words of hope spring forth like thirst-quenching, life-giving water.
Just as He made a way through the Red Sea for their fathers, He promised to make a way for them where they can’t even imagine one.
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights, I have put my Spirit upon Him. He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up His voice, or make it heard in the street.’ A bruised reed He will not break, And a faintly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice.” Isaiah 42:1-3
Our Comfort is Found in Jesus
Jesus. The Chosen One sent to set His people free, not just the Israelites in Babylon, but all His chosen people yet to come.
He is the ultimate release from deserts created by our rebellious hearts and the broken world where we still pitch our tents. Jesus is the One who leads us from our self-inflicted exiles. He is the One who makes all things new. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life.
But for new life to sprout, we have to smash the high places and altars we have erected in our hearts. God will not share the throne of our affections with anyone else. We have to return to our First Love. And what a First Love He is.
He is the One who kept little ones close and stooped down to write in the dirt while condemning rocks dropped from hands. He is the King who served and washed feet and was moved with compassion for the broken, the sick, and the outcast. He was the One asking a woman trapped in guilt and shame for a drink of water. He is the One who wants your heart back.
His invitation still stands,
“Come, everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And he who has no money, Come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, And your labor for that which does not satisfy?” Isaiah 55:1-2
We are made new, not just so we can sigh with relief that what was ashes is restored, or that we somehow can get a little closer to self-actualization.
No, we are made new to love Him and to love others. We are made new to point a hurting world, without hope, to the One that can bring life where there is no sign of life at all.
So how about it?
Put the chisel away.
Leave the desert place behind.
Return to the One and Only.
It is He who makes all things new.
In the comments below share about the things God is resurrecting in your life.
Christelle Vermeulen is a simple farm girl who grew up in South Africa and now lives in Wisconsin with her husband Chris and their three kids Carli, Bernu, and Lené. She is a children’s picture book author, hybrid homeschool mama, part-time residential counselor, and in ministry with her friend Julie as a Revelation Wellness Instructor. Check out her website to read more of her work.
10 Responses
What a blessing you are to the body of christ. Thank you.
I’ve been experiencing poor circulation on my right side. After have 6 children my right calf
developed varicose veins. Is there any exercise that will help with my circulation? Its all along my right side of my body. from my sholders down to my feet.
Again, Thank you for following abba’s purposes in your life, it’s truely been a blessing to me.
~Marian
WE are so glad this post blessed you, Marian! We have great workout videos on RevWell TV.
This very scripture, Isaiah 43:19-21 God has been SPEAKING to me. I have iT chalked on a board in my kitchen. I posted it on Ig on Easter. Then i get this email today. Thankful i serve a living God who speaks through a lIvE and active word. And thankful for this ministry.
We are thankful you are here, Michal!
Please pray for my to find his way back to God and be delivered from the drugs.Delievered from the alcohol and surround his self around Godly men and women.about a week ago I had to do something that really hurted my heart,but I couldn’t take it no more my son behavior.i told him to leave my house and don’t come back .till he is ready to stop smoking weed,alcohol.Now mind that he is on daily medication for diabetes, depression. So I keep his meds at the house.i give him A few to take for the week.he just constantly lying about things that have people after him.then he tell me I lost a gambling bet can i get 25 bucks mom.or he say i vouch for my friend and now the guy is after me.now mind you he don’t have a job.then he get food stamps and sell all of them.he have put me through so much I am at my witts now.i am tired of him now I can’t keep shoving out money to my son and he keeps hanging around those guys who do what he do.i get him out of one thing and next thing I know he into the same mess.But he tell a different lie. How can I help him without giving up on him.
Oh, Sally. Thank you for sharing. We are praying for you here. I suggest you speak with some trusted friends or some church leadership and maybe they can help guide you in the right direction. You are a good mama and the Lord is right there with you in this difficult situation.
I am new hEre. I have a question. What do you mean by “yoga infused”?
I have enjoyed all if have read and heard so far, but need to cLarity about the yoga part. Thank you
Hey Kim! We like to say that we eat the meat and throw out the bones in yoga. We will use the movements, but not the philosophy behind it. We should have some resources about this question coming out soon. We also have a ton of other great workouts!
Thanks for the reminder. We are very stressed in my house. My husband has been working really hard as a full-time custodian and then comes home and then does landscaping on the side. I’ve been looking for a job all summer and have not found one yet. Our two kids are helping my husband with the landscaping. They’re stressed because they’re working a lot as well. I am stressed because I keep getting rejected. I needed to be reminded that God is good. Even in I stress. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing, Crystal! God is with you in all those hard things.