Drought Index
Unfortunately, we are experiencing high temperatures and a moderate drought in Central Ohio this year. My personal opinion is that some fields in the area have a severe drought as the corn appears to be shriveling and starting to die in early July. Since farming is our livelihood, God is definitely testing our faith and our drought index this year. When times get tough, how is your drought index? Do you have scriptures which give you peace in times of trouble?
Due to lack of rain and high heat, I have watered the flower pots on the front porch almost daily. In spite of the high temperatures, they are the prettiest petunias I have ever grown! Several days passed and I forgot to water them. I was sure they would be wilted, but much to my surprise they were still beautiful that evening. As I poured on a jug of water, I thought, “They must have deep roots to withstand this heat and drought for days. There is no way the soil on top has any moisture for the plants.”
That same week, I attended a local church for their prayer hour. The pastor asked for specific prayer concerns. I expressed my concern over the drought situation, and a fear that there would be little or no crop to harvest this fall. Others in the group also expressed various concerns and we prayed specifically for each person’s needs. As we closed our time together a lady I had never met before asked if she could read a scripture to me. She shared the following with the group.
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign Lordis my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.
(Habakkuk 3:17–19)
After sharing these words of hope with me, she also shared that she too was a farm wife. She had experienced a drought before and these words gave her hope and strength. I was so blessed by these words in Habakkuk that I read them many times this past week. I shared them with my husband, who in turn shared them with other farmers. I now have such peace as I focus on God, rather than the drought. You could say it lowered my drought index.
To me the key word in this scripture is yet. “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord!”In other words, bad things may happen, tough times may lie ahead, but I will still have joy in the Lord. Nothing or no one can take that joy away from me. No one can steal my salvation or keep me from crying on Christ’s shoulder. No matter what lies ahead I will rejoice in all He has done for me. I have the security of knowing that God is with me at all times. This wasn’t the first time that the drought index was turned up in my life, and it won’t be the last. Yet in spite of the high temperatures I have my roots planted deep in the soil of God’s Word, just like the petunias have deep roots in the soil. As a result of my deep roots, I will rejoice in the Lord always.
We are all experiencing some sort of drought with the coronavirus now in the USA. Are you relying on the Lord for the assurance that He is ultimately in control? Please share how you are finding JOY in spite of these difficult days.
