Green Leaves in the Drought

I am constantly reading something. Often, I am reading multiple books on multiple things at the same time.  Right now I am in the midst of a book by Elisabeth Elliot on grief, a book about Hillary Clinton's rise to power (which serves to raise my blood pressure!), a cook book (yes, I'm a strange one, but I love finding older cookbooks at Goodwill and reading through them.), and yesterday I started one by Isobel Kuhn about her family's struggle to escape China's Communism (they were missionaries with China Inland Mission).

I am only a short way into this book, but she talks of the joy they all felt when the very last of their board's missionaries were safely out of the country. Some of them had been held prisoner for a time before their release, and she recounts that during a prayer meeting for them, one of the missionary's wives prayed that God would keep their leaves green in the drought time.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

In the Scripture I read that the Godly man's leaf shall not whither. Why? Because he is like a tree planted by the rivers of water! He has a constant spring to draw strength from! That dear woman knew this, and prayed they would be sustained by the One who is able to minister to our hearts even in times of drought. The Godly man is able to be this way because he meditates in God's Word day and night. It is nourishment to a thirsty or hungry soul!

To me that is a beautiful thought. Though we are not held captive in a communist and war torn land (that may not always be the case for us!) we are in a daily spiritual battle. There are times when we go through a dry spell. There are times we are not only in a drought, but possibly even in a desert place.

I don't know about you, but there are days when I am absolutely overwhelmed! The cares of this life press in, the burdens I'm under get to be so heavy, and some days I just don't want to even try to smile and say, "I'm fine," when really I feel like I'm going to break into a million pieces!

I know, I know! I'd like to tell you I never feel that way. I'd like to tell you life is always sunshine and flowers...but you wouldn't believe me, and rightfully so! Because if you're honest with yourself, you have to admit occasionally you feel that way too.

If we're honest, if we're REAL with one another, we must admit we all fight similar battles. The Bible tells us we will, and warns us to get our armor on and stand ready to fight and endure hardness.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:3)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Yes, we're in a battle; a daily, sometimes grueling battle. My trouble is I often forget that I am, in fact, in a battle. Sometimes the battle is hot, and we know without a doubt we're fighting, but there are times when the devil's darts are a little less obvious to our eyes. They are darts of discouragement or complacency. If we don't have our armor on and if we aren't prayerfully watching with eyes of discernment, we are apt to be wounded along the way.

The answer for the drought and the answer for the battle are found in these verses. First of all, I must meditate daily in God's Word. That is my main source of strength. If I soak in the Scriptures then the drought won't affect me. My leaves will be green when everything around me is dried up and dead.

Secondly, I need to get my armor on...daily! No good soldier goes to battle without his equipment! It would be foolish for him to show up without his weapons, ammunition, body armor, and methods of communication. (not to mention provisions and first aide!) His Commanding Officer would have something to say about that! So it is with us! We can not show up for the battle without our armor and hope to be successful!

The year that I spent researching the Soviet Union and Communism allowed me to see some truly exemplary Christians. They had endured the absolute worst. Yet they still praised and glorified God! Some of them even testified that after being in solitary confinement for months or years, that they were willing to go back because God was more real to them there than in freedom. Can you imagine?!

But you see, they knew a secret the Communists refused to see! They knew their source of strength was in seeking and communing with God!

Isobel Kuhn mentioned that the letters of Christians in captivity compared with POW's who did not know God were like night and day! Whereas those who were without Christ cursed their captors, those who knew the Lord were full of praise to God!

I remember reading in several places the account of Baptist historian Isaac Backus's mother being put in jail during the colonial times because she refused to submit to the standing order church (which was the government then). She wrote a letter to her son, and in it she was cheerful, even calling her pathetic prison conditions a palace.

Natasha Vins, daughter of the Baptist pastor Georgi Vins, stood on top of her chair right after her father was sentenced to ten years in prison and yelled above the KGB officers mocking her father, "With Christ you are free in prison!"

The difference between people like this, and those without God in captivity is simple: they knew the truth of God's Word and the joy of His presence.

Isaac Backus's mother and Natasha Vins' father knew how to have green leaves in the drought. There is much we could learn from people like that. There is much we can learn from the Blessed Book that will be our sustenance, even in the drought, even in the desert, even in the battle, and even in prison.