He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste. (Psalm 107:33-34)
When is a dry desert better than a river that overflows with water? When God delivers it for our good and His glory!
You and I will shout from the rooftops and sing God’s praises when He graciously showers us with His abundance of good gifts. But what about those times when God graciously turns flowing springs into a thirsty ground and fruitful land into a salt waste? Are those “Hallelujahs” issuing forth during those times?
How good is our God? He is so good that He will not let too much of a “good thing” come between us and Him. Think about the last time you were knee-deep in an abundant harvest. These are the times when we tend to drift from the One who has provided it. We have a tendency to become self-sufficient and self-centered, looking to the great gifts we have been given . . . rather than adoring the great Giver of those gifts.
God is in the business of multiplying and diminishing. The Divine Diminisher will not tolerate any rivals. So when we turn to other “gods,” He will turn us back to Him by turning rivers into deserts and fruitful lands into a salty waste. Christian, this too is a time to shout from the rooftops and sing His praises! God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him, so He will not let anything capture and keep our affection. To be sure, many lesser “gods” compete for our affection, but God will not allow them to keep it. Do you remember what God said to the serpent in Eden after Adam and Eve sinned?
I will put enmity between you and the woman . . . (Genesis 3:15)
After Adam and Eve sinned, they had become friends with the devil. But God stepped in and made it perfectly clear that He would not allow the devil to keep their affection; Satan had captured it, to be sure, but God stepped in and made sure he could not keep it. And from that day forth, the battle rages on within you and me, and it will continue all the way into glory.
So the next time God decides to diminish something in your life—when He turns a flowing spring of some success into a dry and thirsty ground—remember what He is doing: He is showing you just how much He loves you! He began a good work in you, and He has promised to carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
Praise His mighty name!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 