It’s late summer in Silicon Valley. The hills are brown. But I take comfort from knowing the reservoirs are full. We had plenty of snow and rain last winter. Now we’re benefitting.

When I see brown hills in Silicon Valley, my thoughts turn to the 55th Chapter of Isaiah:

As the rain and snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

     without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and

   bread for the eater,

so is the word that goes out from my mouth:

   It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

(Isaiah 55:10-11)

Sometimes, the LORD’s purpose is to make the “brown hills” of our personal lives bud and flourish. These brown hills may be financial worries. Relationship worries. Health worries.

Sometimes, the LORD’s purpose is to make the “brown hills” of Humanity bud and flourish. These brown hills may be wars and rumors of wars. Natural disasters. Famines.

No matter the type of “brown hills”, God’s word will accomplish what the LORD desires and achieve the purpose for which he sent it:

You will go out in joy

     and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

     will burst into song before you.

(Isaiah 55:12).

Therefore, we need to make sure that we keep “large reservoirs” of the words of the LORD in our hearts.

We need to store the words of the LORD in our hearts that we might not sin. (Psalm 119:11).

We need to store the words of the LORD in our hearts so that they will be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. (Psalm 119:105).

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

What brown hills are in your life?

Have words of the LORD made these brown hills bud and flourish? How? How not? Why? Why not?

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For related ideas, please read my blogs “Flowering Trees” and “Mountains and Hills Breaking Into Song”.