Beautiful prickles

While hiking in Nevada, my husband and I enjoyed seeing it rain in the desert because what seemed dreary, desolate and depressing suddenly burst into life with different colours, sounds and activity soon after. I was amazed to observe ominous looking cacti transform into little delicate smiley flower faces that I called “beautiful prickles.” How did that happen? I reflected on the fact that nothing is impossible with God.

Our lives are like that, they contain prickles in the form of a lost job, a loved one’s death, a wayward child, a divorce, or a negative doctor’s report, but just as the desert received nourishment from the Lord, we can, too. Jesus said he would be with us always (Matthew 28:20), so why do we often fear? Are we spending regular time studying God’s Word? Do we share our faith and help others come to know God? Do we take time to reflect on past times when God helped us through a seemingly impossible or difficult situation? How is our prayer life? Just as the welcome rain brought forth desert cactus flowers, our lives can be full of beautiful prickles, too, if we look to God for strength, pouring out our hearts and trusting that God will be faithful.

Faithful God, I rejoice in your great works! Amen. — MDB