wasteland no more

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall make a name for the LORD,

an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 55:13

I felt the heat

gritty sand at my feet

hot blast in my face

of moisture not a trace

I staggered through the thorns

hands and feet sore and torn

the wilderness I knew

felt abandoned, Lord, by You

The empty dunes stretched for miles

I’d forgotten all the past smiles

distance magnified by my pain and sin

desert blast of burning wind

dry brush and weeds all scattered

staying alive was all that mattered

Wandering further, drifting away

I tried to reach out — tried to pray

Words fell empty to the sand

desperately needing Your saving hand

Reduced by wasteland to my bones

I cried out for You to lead me back home

And then one drop of rain fell

and showers watered that dry personal hell

until verdant flowers and leaves appeared

and once again my Lord came near

Thorns replaced by river cypress

briers broken, washed into that old mess

Your vibrant Word watered it all

into a woodland shady and tall

and as this fragrant garden grew

I saw it all renewed by You

I felt Your Word reshape this husk of a soul

I know Your Spirit has made me whole

cool breeze of heaven in the air

calls me by faith to see Jesus here

wasteland eclipsed by new creation

I am in awe of this grace-filled situation

everlasting sign from my Father above

I praise the Lord of renewing, saving love!