Ash tickles my skin as it drifts aimlessly, settling in thick, variegated layers on my car. Smoke eclipses the morning sun and chokes the day. There’s a profound, uneasy feeling in my soul.
The world is so different now.
The pandemic has forever changed our lives in untold ways. Fires have destroyed homes and the Western U.S., where I live, seems like it’s burning up. Political differences and social unrest have divided our country. My mind searches for ways to redirect from the anxiety and pain everywhere.
I think it’s in our nature to focus on things that keep us occupied when it’s hard to process everything going on in the world.
During the pandemic, my husband and I undertook the biggest distraction of all. We decided to have our kitchen remodeled—a long-overdue project. With our busy school and soccer schedules halted, we had time on the weekends to pick countertops, backsplash, cabinets, and think about all the decorating choices.
As exciting as it is, I now understand when people say construction is stressful. Living on cement with no kitchen or a downstairs bathroom hasn’t been easy for a family of 6. But most of all, there have been so many decisions to make, and my husband and I have often been at odds.
One said disagreement was about which countertop we liked. Since I chose the cabinet style and color, we decided he would get a bigger say in the countertop. My husband loves natural stone called quartzite. He wanted to look at our countertop and be reminded of God’s magnificent creation.
But the quartzite slabs he liked were too busy to go with the floors we bought. He felt like he was settling, but I was thankful he agreed to pick a countertop that looked best with the flooring.
“It looks like the desert,” he grumbled, pointing out the creamy tan background, and I hoped he wouldn’t change his mind. I admired the swirling blue pattern meandering through the length of the slab.
“When I look at it I don’t see a desert. I see the gray-blue lines flowing through it like rivers and streams.”
And then I remembered my favorite devotional book, Streams in the Desert. In fact, it is the only devotional book I didn’t pack away during the remodel.
I went home and looked up the Bible verse about streams in the desert.
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43: 1-3
As trivial as countertops are among all that is going on in this world, I love how God uses the smallest things to remind us of His presence with us.
Life sometimes feels like falling into a river without a lifejacket. The current tosses us about and we need someone to save us. Relationships get rocky and we feel like we will crumble sometimes. But God always has a way of giving us hope no matter what the situation.
God can make a way for us when the way is blocked. He can do a new thing in our relationships and he can do a new thing in us. He shows us how to walk through our trials with Him by our side.
“Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert” (emphasis mine Isaiah 43:19, Berean Study Bible).
Our loving Savior guides our hearts to what really matters in life—knowing Him. During our desert times in life, we discover how Jesus is our living water.
“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:14).
If God created natural stone to be so unique and exquisite, how much more is he working to complete his purpose in us as he promised in His word?
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).
God is in the business of making all things new and making beauty out of ashes.
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory” (Isaiah 61:3 NLT).
When the big and small problems in life feel like they are overtaking us, God wants us to know he holds us up. He takes care of us.
I loved these reminders in Isaiah so much that I decided to order a personalized Bible with these verses printed on a blue cover. I chose blue to remind myself that when I go through the rivers of difficulty I will not drown. Jesus is my living water.
It’s easy to forget how much God loves us when we’re going through trials. That’s why I love having personal reminders of his love and care for me—whether it be a picture frame with my favorite verse, a personalized Bible or devotional, or yes… even a countertop.
Do you have a special verse the Lord has given to you?
Please share it in the comments below.
I love how Isaiah 43:1 says that God calls us by name and tells me I am
His.
When I look at my name and the verse on my new Bible, I’ll remember God calls me by name. I am His.
No matter what happens in your circumstances, you can rest knowing you are His.
He has called you by name.
Would you like to order a personalized Bible? I love personalizedbibles.com! They have so many Bibles and devotionals to choose from.
I gave a gift of Streams in the Desert to a friend who had breast cancer. I’m happy to see they sell the same Duo-tone binding, which can also be personalized here.
Dear Lord,
You call me by name. I am yours. You never promised a world without trouble, but you promised to be with me in my troubles. We can take heart because you have given us reason to have hope, no matter what. When my life feels like a desert and I thirst for something new, you redeem me. When I long for something more, you show me wholeness in knowing you. Thank you for always being with me. For never leaving or forsaking me. For doing a new thing in me.
Hello! I’m Valerie, a busy mother
of four energetic children and
a wife to my husband of 26
years. I write to help others have courageous faith and discover how to trust in God when they are afraid. 
This post reminded me of our 50th wedding anniversary trip (last month–August 2021). Our two grown daughters and SILs gifted us a week in Estes Park, CO for all nine of us (add in three grandsons) to stay together in a beautiful two-story cabin for a whole week. It was in the planning stages for months, which gave us something lovely to look forward as we continued to endure the pandemic. The idea for the trip came from our younger daughter, Julia, who’s been to Estes Park a dozen times and couldn’t wait for her dad and I to experience the mountain air and beautiful views. Then, the week we got there, the smoke had traveled from the California wildfires polluting the air and blocking the mountain views. Julia was so disappointed. We didn’t know it at the time, but while we were there, she got on her laptop and did some research on the smoke, which made her fearful that I would have an asthma attack and that her dad would have some type of awful reaction as well. She felt that no matter the plans, no matter how far you go to try to go to get away from “it all,” no matter how you try to help your parents, no matter how much money you spend doing it . . . well, you feel powerless to make it happen, even for just a week. She would have borrowed your words at the beginning of this article, “Smoke eclipses the morning sun and chokes the day. There’s a profound, uneasy feeling in my soul.”
She shared her disappointment about the blocked mountain views with us, but we were not aware of her health concerns until after we got home safe and sound. Those first few days we assured her that the scenery was still beautiful to us–because it was. We were enjoying just being together; it was all a dream-come-true for us. In a few days, the smoke cleared quite a bit, and the faraway mountains came into view and were all the more enjoyable due to their formerly being obscured. The smoke reminded me that not everyone in America was experiencing an anniversary vacation. There were people who needed our prayers! God can clear the view when the view is blocked, and He did! Our vacation was a success in every way, a wonderful memory, a blessing that many never get to experience. Lots of couples never reach year 50! Many families can’t get along for a week. Most families couldn’t afford this. These were my thoughts at the time, and they remain a month later. So Valerie, I loved your words here! And I especially liked the part about the countertop disagreement. My husband and I still have our share of inconsequential disagreements–something else to laugh about after the emotional smoke has cleared. All these things made your post a joy for me to read. Thanks for sharing this so that I could find it today!
Such a great devotional today, perfect for the times we are in
Hi Brenda, I’m so glad it encouraged you! I hope you are doing well!
My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:29-31: He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those whose hope is in the Lord wo;; renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
I have one more: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
Amen! I love those too. I have several favorite Bible verses the Lord has used throughout my life to remind me of his love and care for me. Thank you so much for sharing yours!