Oceans in the Desert

Kathi Pelton

I just returned home after almost three weeks away. While I was gone, I remembered that as I left home I noticed that my tulip bulbs had sprouted, with the beautiful green leaves and buds that would soon color my yard with new life. Since I was away longer than I expected, I thought that surely they would have already flowered and I would have missed their announcement of spring.

As I was about to board the plane to return home, I received a text message from my husband (accompanied by a photo) of the first yellow tulip in full bloom and our cherry tree breaking forth in blossoms. They awaited my arrival home like a kiss from heaven upon my little piece of earth.

As I awoke this morning in my own bed, the sun was shining through my window and I knew that there was an announcement from heaven to God’s children. It is the words from Songs of Solomon 2,

“My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land.” Song of Solomon‬ ‭2:10-12‬ ‭

This is the time that many have longed for; the time when beauty returns after a long, cold winter. The barren season is now giving way to birth of the long awaited promises that have been hoped for by faith. Beauty is bursting forth like the spring flowers to announce the arrival of desires fulfilled and the awakening of first love.

Suddenly your seeds sown and the promises planted deep in the soil of your heart will bloom. Though you thought that you missed them, you will be surprised to find out that they came forth at just the right time. The long winter season of your soul has done a deep work, unseen by man, but carefully watched over by God. He has done a work in your heart that has produced great hope, faith, and love.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans‬ ‭5:1-5‬

The single yellow tulip in my yard as I arrived home was like the “cloud the size of a man’s hand” that Elijah saw when he announced that that “drought was over” (1 Kings 18).

Today I announce to you that the winter is over!

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