
It's the last day of January 2025 and we made it. An election is behind us, long running areas of prayer issues are still with us, and new joys and trials are before us.
A few days ago an Army helicopter on a training mission collided with an American Airlines plane over the Potomac River in Washington D.C. - all lives lost. President Trump spoke about it in his signature style, the news agencies wrote about his speaking about it in their signature styles, and I am just sad that such a thing as this terrible accident happened and that the various families affected are having to live with this very sad new-normal in their lives.
With a few old-normal stresses in my life I feel a tad weary. First, my inherent film of fatigue trying to slow me down, then the gnawing belief that all the fighting and slogan-slapping activity that each political side has been wielding against each other isn't going to stop, at all, then the terrible truth of 67 deaths over the Potomac, and I need some encouragement...
...and then I begin reading in Isaiah this morning and a phrase waved at me, and I am waving back with this writing. It was - With joy you will draw waters from the wells of salvation - Isaiah 12:3
This earth exists in a fallen state, that is for sure. But as believers in Jesus Christ we have a resource, the wells of salvation. Yet these wells exist in curious places, many of them in the Valley of Baca. In Psalm 84:5-7 we read:
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose hearts are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.
The Valley of Baca is unknown. It appears to be a dry place, yet pilgrims on the way to Zion delight in it. Perhaps it is a landmark on their journey. Perhaps the springs that they are able to draw from in this dry place quench their thirst so thoroughly that they delight in the experience. Then I can visualize true joy to be able to draw from these wells.
As a believer in Jesus Christ, with the comforts of the Holy Spirit readily available in the Scriptures, there IS a well of salvation even in this often troubling earth experience, to quench our thirst and to sustain us on our way. It is a joy to discover them.
Scripture readings: Psalm 63:1; Isaiah 12; Isaiah 55; John 4:4-15
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