Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

We all have things we believe in, dreams we want to accomplish, and problems we want to overcome. We know God has put promises in our hearts, but sometimes we don’t see how they can happen. Maybe the medical report isn’t good, the child is off track, or we don’t have the necessary funds. Personally, I have always dreamt of becoming an Army Chaplain.

In Numbers 21, the Israelites were enduring severe heat, exhaustion, and thirst as they traveled through the desert. They felt disheartened by the endless expanse of sand and rocks. However, their spirits lifted when they found a well, only to be disappointed when they realized it was dry, filled with dirt, rocks, and debris, showing that it had been unused for years.

It was a huge disappointment, but God told Moses to gather the people around because He would give them water. God said, “I’m going to do something out of the ordinary.” What stuck out to me was how God’s promise didn’t automatically come to pass. There was something the Israelites had to do.

Scripture says that they began to sing, “Spring up, O well,” right in the middle of the desert where it seemed impossible. Instead of complaining, they started singing, “Spring up, O well.” They made a declaration of faith, saying, “Lord, thank you that the water is coming. Thank you for making streams in the desert.”

Given the circumstances, it didn’t seem practical. The well was dried up, and every indication suggested no water would ever come from it. Their thoughts told them they looked foolish, wasting their time singing to a well. They could have talked themselves out of it and said, “Moses, we’re not going to sing. We’re hot and thirsty. We’ll sing after we get some water.” Instead, they kept repeating, “Spring up, O well.” Then, suddenly, in the middle of the desert, water began to shoot out of that dried-up well.

They saw the promise fulfilled, and God has put promises in each of us. Our circumstances may say it’s not happening; you’ll never get well, meet the right person, or accomplish that dream. It’s been a long time, and you feel like you’re in a drought. You have to do what the Israelites did. Your praise, thanksgiving, and declarations of faith will cause water to flow in the desert. It doesn’t take any faith to sing after the water shows up. It’s easy to sing once the promise is fulfilled, but the singing and our praise cause healing to spring up, abundance to spring up, breakthroughs to spring up, and in the seasons where it feels like we’re waiting on God, God is often waiting on us.

Why don’t you start declaring the promises He has put in you? When dealing with an illness, instead of just hoping to get better, you can say, “Lord, thank you for restoring health in me. Thank you that you will fulfill the number of my days.” When you don’t have enough money, declare, “Father, thank you that I will lend and not borrow. Thank you that whatever I touch prospers and succeeds.” If you’re waiting for a child, declare, “Father, you said my seed would be mighty in the land. Thank you, my baby is on the way.”

God has the final say, and when He hears you thanking Him before the answer comes, praising Him when the odds are against you, He’ll make things happen that you could never make happen. He’ll open the windows of heaven and doors no man can shut.

Goals, dreams, healing, promotion, and restoration are dormant within you. You may not see how they can manifest, and it can be tempting to settle for less and believe these dreams are not meant for you. However, it’s important to start calling forth these promises. Begin to declare: Healing, spring up in me. Favor, spring up in me: good relationships, joy, and peace spring up.

The Israelites were tired and discouraged, but they dared to sing to an empty, dried-up well. They dared to thank God for provision even when it looked foolish. Every voice may tell you it won’t happen. When the Israelites couldn’t see, taste, feel, or smell water, they had no logical reason to believe that water was nearby. That’s why Scripture instructs us to, “Walk by faith and not by sight.”

Scripture says that in difficult times, it will not happen by our might or power but by the Spirit of the Living and Most High God. God is not limited by the natural. When you start singing, believing that He can make streams in the desert, and thanking Him for what He’s put in your heart, God will show up and show out in your life.

Too often, we think, “I will wait until I see the water or until I see the promise, and then I’ll sing, then I’ll have a good attitude.” That approach is backward. Instead, you have to sing first. Isaiah 54:1 says, “Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child, break forth into song.” He didn’t say sing because God gave you the baby or sing because you saw the promise fulfilled. No, this text was written to barren women.

In ancient times, women who couldn’t have children were often shamed and looked down upon. The story of Hannah in the Bible illustrates the distress and desperation women in such situations face. They would fervently pray and seek help, hoping for a change in their circumstances. The prophet Isaiah wrote to encourage and give hope to those struggling with infertility, illness, or other challenges, urging them to keep their faith and believe in the promise of better times ahead.

The Psalmist said, “God inhabits the praises of His people.” If you want God to show up, don’t complain; instead, thank Him that the answer is coming! If you plant a seed and don’t water it, it won’t grow. There’s nothing wrong with the seed; it’s still full of life and potential but the seed needs to be watered. Similarly, the seed God put in you may not have come to pass yet, but the good news is it’s still alive. You may have to water it for another month or a year, but if you keep watering that seed and thanking God for the promise, it will come to pass at the appointed time.

In 2 Kings Chapter 3, the armies of Judah, Israel, and Edom had been traveling through the desert for seven days to battle the Moabites when they ran out of water. They didn’t realize the streams along the way were dried up, so now they needed water for themselves and their animals. They were camped in a valley where it never rains, the worst place to run out of water. It looked like they would be an easy target for the enemy, so they sent word to the prophet Elisha, asking what they should do.

Elisha was initially reluctant to assist King Jehoram, the son of King Ahab and the current evil king of Israel. However, at the request of his friend King Jehoshaphat, he ultimately agreed to help. Knowing that he couldn’t hear from God in his irritation, Elisha asked for a harpist to play to change the atmosphere. God’s power came upon Elisha as the harp was played, and he began to prophesy the answer. It’s amazing what God will do when we create the right atmosphere. Elisha then told them to dig ditches in the valley to prepare for the coming water.

I’m sure they said, “Elisha, you must not realize we’re in a valley where it never rains. We’re not going to waste our time digging ditches. If we see some clouds starting to form or hear a little thunder, maybe we’ll dig a few ditches.” But it doesn’t work that way. If you want water, you have to dig the ditches first. Elisha said, “You will see neither wind nor rain, but this valley will be filled with water.”

He said it wouldn’t happen naturally or in an ordinary way but rather supernaturally. They dug the ditches, and the following day, although it didn’t rain, water suddenly began flooding into the valley. As a result, they were able to defeat the Moabites.

Every time you thank God for the promise coming true, you are digging a ditch. The medical report may say that you will never get well, but you keep saying, “Father, thank you that I will live and not die.” Negative thoughts may tell you, “Why are you digging that ditch? Don’t you know there are no clouds in the sky, and it doesn’t rain in this valley?”

Don’t worry. It’s not going to happen naturally; it will be supernatural. Out of nowhere, your health will improve, you will meet the right person, or your business will take off. Suddenly, you’ll be out of debt. When you hold on to the promise, you’re digging ditches and preparing for God to do what you cannot do.

Don’t be swayed by what you see; be moved by what you know. It’s just a matter of time before the water shows up. Your breakthrough is on the way. God says, “If you do your part and dig the ditches, I’ll do my part and bring the water. I’ll show you favor, open new doors, and help you break that addiction.” You may feel like you’re in a place where it never rains, but now is not the time to get discouraged. This is the time to start declaring, “Spring up, O well,” spring up, promotion, healing, spring up, favor.

Thank God that things are changing in your favor. Thank Him that your best days are still ahead of you. Your decision to act and have faith despite what your eyes can see will usher you into God’s blessing and promises being fulfilled, and it will be more than you have seen, heard, or imagined. I hope that speaks to you, and I pray you have a blessed day!