Do you ever just feel defeated and discouraged?

Life has a way of throwing us a great deal of disappointments and it’s rather easy to become disheartened by it all.

In the news we’ve heard a great deal of discouraging events. From ongoing police brutality to mass shootings to hateful and harmful legislation to local violence and so much more. There’s a lot of heavy news coming our way.

With all of it out there, it can be really easy to lose hope and want to throw in the towel. It often feels like we are in a desert of negativity.

And yet, this week in our scripture we come upon the words of Isaiah 43:19, “I am about to do 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.”

At a time when Israel was facing a lot of disappointment and discouragement, God brought a word of hope through the prophet Isaiah. Ultimately, God promised to make a way in the desert, to bring about life where all hope seemed lost.

The same promise remains true for us today. Amidst the hardships of our time, God is still working in our midst. God is raising up prophets and leaders to pave a way forward. God is bringing about justice through people like you and me.

However, that change isn’t instantaneous. It takes time. It takes trust. It takes hope. It takes faith.

Even in the desert, we can discover God’s river of love. This river will never run dry, and it will sustain us even at our lowest. Trust that God’s love is with you and for you. God’s love is making a way where there appears to be no way. Something new is coming.

Friends, come draw near this river in the desert as we worship together this Sunday. You can join us in person or online at 11am at St. John’s on the Lake UMC! We hope to see you as we sing and break bread together.

Peace and love,

Pastor Kipp