Joy in the Lord During Dry Seasons
By Pastor Jeremy Morton
Have you ever been through a dry season?
Yes, the weather can be an illustration of this, or the desert can be an illustration of this. When I speak of dry seasons, I’m talking about those times that are hard because it’s hot. It’s arid. There’s no rain. It seems as if the earth around us is burning away or withering away because the water, which is life to everything in the earth, doesn’t seem to be present.
Have you ever been through a season like this spiritually?
Those times when it seems as if your prayers are just bouncing off the ceiling?
A season where your heart feels like it is quickly losing hope?
How about a season when you’re around someone who’s happy and joyous and it annoys you? You’re almost irritated at them because you wonder: What do they have to be so happy about when I’m over here feeling arid and alone?
Well, listen to God’s word here:
“The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree—all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely the people’s joy is withered away.”
Joel 1:12
These were God’s chosen, holy people, Israel, and they too went through dry seasons when it felt as if the Lord was desperately far away. Their people’s joy had withered away.
I’m mindful also of what Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, said. Solomon said in Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”
This literally means you had your heart set on something, but it didn’t happen. It didn’t work out, and now your heart is broken. Your hope has been taken and your heart is grieving.
I think we all go through seasons when our joy is tested and strained, but God’s Word is clear: Permanent joy is in Christ alone.
If your joy is in Jesus, no one and nothing can ever take it from you.
“Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns. Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth rejoice. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming, and he will judge the earth. He will judge with perfect righteousness, and all the peoples will see his faithfulness.’”
Psalm 96:10
Dry seasons are real, but they are temporary. Joyless seasons are real, but they don’t have to be permanent. Grief is a process, and we all have scars, but our joy can be rebuilt.
One day, Vladimir Putin is going to know the Lord reigns. North Korea, China, Iran, and every nation in the world, and everyone who’s been a president in United States history will one day know that there is one Lord God Almighty. On that day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is King.
So you may be going through difficulty now, but hang on to this truth: The Lord is still on the throne.
Does He know where you are? Yes.
Is your situation too difficult for Him? No.
Does He have a good plan for you today? Yes, He surely does.
So today, no matter how dry things look and feel, remember that the reign of God’s Spirit is on the way.
Thank you, God, that you know where we are. Thank you that our situation is not too tough for you. And thank you that you have a good plan today. We turn to you in prayer and praise. In Christ’s name, Amen.
