Have you ever flipped through your Bible, looking for a special place to read?

Maybe God took you to the Book of Numbers. Yes! Let’s do this!

Sometimes you land on Psalm 23. Wow, God really knows what I need right now.

Then there’s the time you landed on the Beatitudes, again.

Philippians 4:13. That is so my life verse, in all things.

I stopped shaking my Bible like a magic genie when I realized that God didn’t live in a book. However, I did this very thing the other day.

I was sitting next to my son at the desk while he searched for answers to his science questions. I looked over his shoulder at the bright pictures of big bugs and noticed our family Bible sitting next to us.

I sighed and picked it up. It was a rough day. Actually, it’s been a rough year and some change. All kinds of darts, daggers and wedges have been thrown at me or our family that are just getting more and more frustrating to dodge.

I did it. I flipped those Bible pages thinking that they would find themselves opened to 2 Chronicles or Leviticus. Yawn fest, even though my daughter might enjoy those pages. But, nope, God’s Word didn’t fall on laws or history. His Word fell on something unexpected… Isaiah.

Well, Isaiah, what would you have for me to learn? Some prophecy, a grand lesson, or a deep thought really not meant for me was what I was assuming. I was wrong.

Isaiah 35:1-2 KJV

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.

I was in the wilderness, and I felt alone, solitary. Was I suppose to be glad for these things? Am I suppose to be rejoicing in the desert, blooming in the wasteland? Do I see the glory of the Lord shining through all the trials? What does this even mean to me? Is it suppose to mean something to me at all because I almost think it does.

Peace and prosperity will come to the church as its enemies are scattered. I am part of that church and I know that ultimately, my enemies will scatter with the rest. Physical, emotional and spiritual adversaries that keep trying to beat me down will one day disperse, become like ashes in the wind. There will be singing and rejoicing as the church blooms into something beautiful.

Does that mean I bloom into something beautiful? Will I finally break free of bondage to all the failings of life, past the defeat I have faced, and the self-doubt involved in the lies of the enemy? God’s Word says I will.

My Bible flipping surely spoke some truth to my weary soul. No matter the weariness, the hurt, and the anger I face, God pulls me through and creates something beautiful. It’s so very hard to believe this of myself no matter how much I fully believe in the Lord. Sin of pride in my self-doubt needs to be broken. He will see me though this as He sees me through all things.

He is victorious!

He will see you through this. The Lord will cause you to be beautiful and to rise up from your very ashes, and scatter your enemies. The church will bloom and we will rise up like the heirs of the only true kingdom. He is victorious!