by Anna Haiar

Life in the Desert

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“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” 
Isaiah 41:17-18 English Standard Version

My family recently returned from a vacation to Arizona. It was the first time visiting for most of us, and we were amazed at the plant life and natural surroundings which were vastly different from where we live in Colorado. We learned quite a bit about the lifecycle of a cactus from a tour we took at a local museum. Cacti are supposed to be one of the hardiest plants around—standing firm in the Arizona desert, shaped by scorching sun and scarce rainfall. But this particular photo is of a cactus after it dies.

Its spiny arms were nothing more than leftover wood, its green skin completely worn away, and core now hollowed. It was a sobering image. Even something created to thrive in drought couldn’t survive without water forever. The desert is a place of extremes. Hot days. Cold nights. Dry, cracked earth. And yet God designed certain things to grow there—plants like that cactus, and people like you and me.

Sometimes life feels like a desert—unrelenting stress, loneliness, grief, or spiritual dryness. We press on, built for endurance, but there are moments when even our strength fails. We find ourselves like that cactus—still standing, but lifeless inside.

That’s when we most need the sustaining power of God. Not a quick fix or temporary relief, but living water for parched souls. Isaiah 41 reminds us that God sees the wilderness places. He knows when we are gasping for hope. And He promises not to forsake us.The world tells us to be resilient on our own, to tough it out. But God offers something radically different: sustenance, not self-reliance. He doesn’t just leave us in the desert; He promises to bring rivers to it.

Maybe today you feel like you’re in survival mode. The cactus reminds us: even those built for the wilderness still need water. Let your thirst lead you to the only One who can truly satisfy.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado