In Need of Hope

Happy Wednesday, friends! I’m excited to be here with you today! Thanks for taking the time to drop by and say hi. I really appreciate it.

A few years ago, I did a project called Alphabet for the Soul and each week I’d share a word that started with the letter I was on—A-Z. The majority of letters were easy to come up with words for them and each led to a small devotional. However, some letters were really tricky. Finding a word for a mini-devotional that started with X or Z was very interesting. But I found one for each. The word I found for X is xerach. Yes, it’s a word. I had no idea what it meant until I looked it up and now when I think back on it, I remember how much it encouraged me.

With my husband having surgery last week and me having a neck procedure yesterday, I could use some encouragement today. Two surgeries are not how we hoped to start the year off, but when I think of the word xerach, I think of God whispering words of hope and encouragement in my ear. So, I thought it would be fun to share the word with you today. o share today’s word with you. It was a little interesting coming up with an applicable word for X, but I found one, and I don’t know about you, but it really speaks to where I am right now with my recent health issues and some other trials I’m facing. It’s a word that holds so much encouragement, I feel God whispering it to my soul as I type this out.

Now, I’m sure you either have already Googled xerach or you’re patiently waiting for its definition so here’s you go: 

Xerach is: Plant succession staring on bare ground or rock (an empty place or a hard surface) and culminating in a mature climax forest.

It’s a word with such deep meaning and I think really reflects the trials and growth Christians go through while becoming more like Christ. 

Xerach is a mature forest that grew from the humblest of beginnings.  I don’t know about you, but lone xerach flower blooming in the desert is a far mightier display of God’s might than a meadow full of them. If He’s planted you in a dry place, trust that He’ll bring you to bloom.

God says in His Word:
“For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” ~Isaiah 43:19 

If you are struggling to grow in a dry, hard place, trust that God is at work and when you mature into full bloom, you will be a glorious reflection of Him to behold. I thought I’d include some Scripture verses and passages to encourage you today. 

For Further Study: 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Isaiah 66:22Isaiah 11:1-9Isaiah 41:18-20 (in addition to verse 19 above)  Psalm 31:24

Here is a song that has spoken to me so much over the years when I’ve been in dry places. I hope it speaks to your heart today as well.

What song fills you with hope whenever you listen to it?

I’d love it if you’d share.

Blessings, 

Dani