Photography Tuesdays: Death Valley

The name of this part of California conjures up images of skeleton’s half-buried in the sand, desolation and severe water deprivation, along with an unrelenting and searing heat, all encapsulated in a completely inhospitable locale. You have a feeling there should be a sign posted near the entrance to the valley, “Abandon hope all ye who enter here.”

Last spring, while I was speaking at a conference in Las Vegas, my wife and daughter took a side trip to Death Valley. While they had been warned by locals that the Valley was experiencing a once in a 100 years wet spell, they were not prepared for all of the vegetation they found populating the once barren landscape. Since they went in the beginning of April, the temperature was also moderated.

A view across Death Valley
Click on the picture to see the a larger image.

Green where once there had only been brown. This picture shows the new flowers blooming out of the barrenness.

Bloomin' flowers!

The Psalmist said. “He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs.” Psalm 107:35. It is remarkable how a little water can turn desolation into verdant beauty.

Isaiah predicted, “Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” Isaiah 35:6. So, no matter how dry and barren some place appears, all it takes is a bit of water to bring it to life. We can see that in our own back yard. During the drought several years ago, the area across our stream grew very little vegetation and what was there was brown and stunted. This spring, when it was raining every week for at least a day or two, the same area was overrun with lush green growth.

Our own Christian lives are like that. All it takes is a little outpouring from the Holy Spirit to cause our souls to blossom with verdant spiritual life.

Have you been feeling like Death Valley lately? Don’t despair. Pray that God sends you that 100 year wet season of the Holy Spirit. One thing to remember though. The Valley springs to life to the glory of God. You should do the same.

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