Today, I was reflecting back over the season of life that I’ve been in. Back in January of 2016, the Lord led me to a passage of scripture that He said would be an anchor for me as I walked into the next season of my life. At the time, His word’s and the passage He directed me to seemed odd. I couldn’t have been in a happier, expectant season at the time in my mind, so when He directed me to Isaiah 43:16-19 I didn’t know what to think. In short, it’s a passage from His voice talking about how He will make a way out of the wilderness, that He will make a path in the dry desert.
Looking back, I am thankful that the Lord knows whats coming long before we do, that He knows the things we will walk through and how He will prepare us for the “wilderness” long before it’s even in sight. My season of being in the wilderness came, and boy was I thankful for the Lord’s guidance. Last night while reading in my Bible, I landed again in Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 51:1-3,
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
you who seek the Lord:
look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.
2 Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
that I might bless him and multiply him.
3 For the Lord comforts Zion;
he comforts all her waste places
and makes her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.”
From this verse, the Lord brought forth something from the overflow of my heart, a song. I used to write poetry and songs so long ago to the Lord, over time I simply stopped. But today, as I felt the Lord saying to me that it was time to leave the wilderness, I couldn’t stop my hand from penning these words. I am certainly no song writer, and in no way have I ever been musically inclined.. However, I know the power of being relatable and the peace that comes from being understood, so I pray that in the same way the Lord filled me with peace when I sang this to Him this chilly, November afternoon, that you who read it will feel the same peace. If you’re in your own wilderness season, I hope this fills you with a sense of victory.. Even if you can’t see the promise land, I assure you that IT IS coming . Sing with me as we walk our way out of the wilderness.
Deserts Into Gardens
You make, my deserts into gardens
You make, my brokenness into goodness
You take the holes in my heart, and grow them into fullness
Yes, You make, my deserts into gardens
For years, I wandered in the wilderness
So far from my God-given purpose
But You came, and told me who I am and made me whole
You make, my deserts into gardens
You make, my brokenness into goodness
You take the holes in my heart, and grow them into fullness
Yes You make, my deserts into gardens
For years, I wandered in the wilderness
So dry, filled with doubts and disappointments
But you came, and rained down Your grace and revived my soul
You make, my deserts into gardens
You make, my brokenness into goodness
You take the holes in my heart, and grow them into fullness
Yes You make, my deserts into gardens
For years, I wandered in the wilderness
So alone, frustrated by my circumstance
But You came, and met me on the road and led me home
No more, will I wander in the wilderness
Now I know, that I can trust your faithfulness
Because You came, You died and took my place to call me You own
Now I’ll dance, full of assurance
Every step, full of endurance
As I live, my life full of abundance
I will rejoice
Until next time,
keep rejoicing your way out of the wilderness.
-Maggie
Maggie Parsons 