Dry Rivers

By faithbiela

There are seasons in our lives when we may feel stagnant, frustrated and discouraged when it appears that there is no progression in our lives towards the things we truly desire. I call these the “dry” seasons. Long seasons of what seems like “waiting patiently” is the reoccurring and unavoidable theme. Quiet seasons, lonely seasons, seasons of closed door after closed door, the nothing seems to be working seasons…yeah, you know the ones. We’ve all been there.  To say such seasons are uncomfortable would be an understatement. We quickly come up with a thousand ways to come out of those seasons, we strategize, we scheme, we consult someone wiser, we network, but all our efforts falter so eventually , we scream, we cry, we complain…we grow weary. We grow weary because we feel we are doing all the “right” things. We’ve been praying, attending service, reading scripture, we give back, and we stay out of trouble. Somehow we rationalize in our minds that being a “good” person equates to a life of smooth sailing with no challenges, no struggle, and no opposition. Sorry to break the news to you but that is NOT the world we live in but that fact is not entirely bad news. It depends on your perspective.

Let me make things more clear. Look through my lens.

If you didn’t realize it before, know that we have all been entrusted with a river bed. Our river beds are our lives…yes God has entrusted us with our lives. By definition rivers are meant to flow and not stay dry. River beds are carriers. Carriers of water, carries of life… they are channels of blessings. Depending on the season in life, sometimes there is rain in abundance and sometimes it is a dry season.

God calls us to be good stewards of that river bed no matter the season. We must not allow weeds to grow in it or things to pollute it and we should definitely not do away with the river bed all together and create something in its place. Now there are variables that may affect our river beds such as the current climate we find ourselves in like changing life seasons, our relationships with others,  our economic predicaments  and society to name a few. The good news is that God remains in control of what flows to and through us…He is the source of our blessings. So no matter the storm or wind you are facing in your climate, remember you serve an almighty God that even the winds and storms obey Him. God will not allow you to drown. He promises not to give you more that you can bear but you must look to him and trust him in faith.

So what’s the importance of being good stewards of what God has entrusted us with?

1. A Process that Yields Fruit. Diligence and endurance produces character and wisdom. Sometimes we go through dry seasons in order to grow. God always answers our prayers but not always in the ways that we expect to hear from him. Yes, He speaks through his Word, His Spirit, and through others but he can also speak to us through an experience. It is one thing to learn by being taught but there is something about passing through something yourself that gives you a different perspective. You somehow value the wisdom and experience much more and what you’ve learned carriers much greater meaning. Growth and progress is something we all seek but understand that it is a process. In the midst of that process you may encounter a dry season, and being a good steward in such a season requires faith. Have faith that God will see you through. Have faith that God is waiting for you on the other side.
2. An Abundance of Blessings. Being a good steward of what God has entrusted us with calls forth blessings into our lives. Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” We must prove faithful with whatever God has entrusted us with now. Faithfulness grabs God’s attention. If you are a janitor that always shows up late to work, does half-hearted work and always complains, chances are you will do the same when you are a CEO. In the same ways if you cannot budget and be financially responsible with $100 you will not magically learn to budget and manage millions of dollars if it shows up in your account tomorrow. Learn to budget and manage now when the risks and chances of damages are not as weighty!
3. Impact Your Climate. Don’t let the climate impact you. Being a good steward affects others. Our characters and our lifestyles influence others around us. That is why it is said that impacting the world  for the better starts with us as individuals. What we carry is our gift to the world. Your existence matters. Don’t allow yourself be an empty vessel or succumb to filling yourself with frivolous things that will pass away. If you are to carry something to the world let it be goodness. God is the source of all goodness. Look to Him and trust him with your river bed and He will fill you. It is important for our rivers to flow with blessings because we are not the only ones to benefit when God blesses us. When our rivers flow it will affect those around us and nourish them as well. We may start with small streams but with obedience, patience and faith those streams will grow into rivers and then in to oceans.

God is gracious and desires to promote you to a greater position in your life because He loves you. He loves you and wants you to be prosperous not because you are doing all the “right” things because know that He loves you even when we are doing all the “wrong” things. Don’t miss this…We do what we know is right out of our love for Him not because we desire a blessing or because we want an uncomfortable season in our lives to end. So continue being faithful, stay consistent and stay diligent. God sees you and that is what matters most. When God promotes you it will overrule any man, or any circumstance. Just know that your growth and promotion is sometimes a process. A process to equip you, make you stronger and make you wiser for what is ahead. In the end what God blesses you with is always much better than what you originally asked for or could ever imagine. Isn’t that amazing? No matter the time that has past or what may have transpired God has the ability to orchestrate all things to work in your favor, so don’t fret. There is no such thing as “lost time” or “too late” with God.

“And we know that God causes ALL THINGS to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Your river is dry now but only for a little while to make way for an abundance of flowing blessings. Remember I said it’s all about perspective. All things work together for good…There is a purpose for this process.

It is my prayer that your river will not continue to run dry but that you will flourish in all seasons and in all areas. Amen.

With love,

Faith ‘Biela