Thirsty: Isaiah 41:17-18

I'm still in my dark place, struggling to "feel inspired" enough to write anything on my new scripture blog.  But I really want to do this each day, for both the writing and the scripture time it gives me.  So I'll just share a favorite scripture with you, in lieu of something new that I've discovered today.  I have been trying to memorize this passage from Isaiah 41

17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

 18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

This is a passage I discovered recently, within the past year or so.  It was not at all familiar to me.  Perhaps that is why I find it so beautiful.  I like the idea that the poor and needy are seeking water, and the Lord does not immediately intervene.  He does not prevent them from feeling thirst.  They search and find no water.  Their tongue faileth for thirst.  They already feel abandoned, I imagine.  They are suffering.  They are trying and failing.  Yet the Lord promises that he will hear them and not forsake them.  But he does not say when he will help them get the water they are so desperate for.  Perhaps these thirsty people feel like they have waited long enough.  They are really, really thirsty, and are doing their best to find water, but there is none--or so they believe.  The Lord promises so much water--he will open rivers, fountains, pools of water, springs of water.  But he does not say when he will do this, and he does not do this right away.  This is the kind of faith we need to develop if we can.  The faith that he hears us, he has not forsaken us, he will not forsake us.  He can make water come from places we never imagined, more water than we ever dreamed of.  But we need to be patient and wait upon him.  

I guess I'm feeling thirsty right now.  I feel the darkness of the world.  I feel a bit of despair and hopelessness.  I feel like I just keep failing and failing.  Although I did not feel inspired as I began to write this,  just reading this scripture again has lifted me up.  I can see myself in these poor, needy, thirsty people, and I don't want to give up on the Lord.  The water will come when the time is right.