“Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion (put in your name); He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and sound of melody. Isaiah 51:3
Brown and Green. No color, no wildflowers. My hike today was through our Open Space behind our neighborhood. Last year, each month I was delighted by a different dominant color of wildflowers. Why did I not take pictures? Because I thought I would see it every year. Not so in 2011. Everything is brown or green. Surviving but definitely not thriving. The cactus is spreading but not flowering. I look for snakes everywhere in this high desert path, and see the green of the scrub oak sucking up any water that is given.
It matches the dryness of my soul. Waiting. Knowing my roots in faith are deep, but there is no flowering of my heart. No joy in patience. Frustration mounts as unemployment lingers for me. Financial burdens are given daily to God as he knows what I need. Emotions of rejection, not being wanted fight with feelings of being stupid, worthless, lonely and despondent. I look for the “serpent” in the dryness of my heart. He is there on this hike. 
I keep walking. Start praying. Quote scripture I have memorized. Sing praise choruses. One step in front of the other. Up the hill, down the valley, seeing life in the distance. Home. The phone rings. Someone encourages me. God’s word sustains me in the desert. Again.
The thunder booms and the sky darkens, but there is a promise of rain. A promise of flowers. In the desert. In my heart. Let it rain, let it rain down on me. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Draw me close to you, never let me go. You are my desire. No one else will do. You will go out with joy and be led forth with strength. The mountains and the hills will break forth before you and the trees of the fields will clap their hands.
How does a walk comfort you? What do you focus on when you are walking? What does your mind do? What desert in your heart needs watering? What will you do to express joy and gladness?