The other day, I was meditating on the words of Isaiah 58 and the idea of a scorched place really hit me. You know when you’re in a scorched place. It’s the aftermath of a trial, when the sound of the wildfire has died down and now all that’s left is ashes.
Take a look at this definition of scorched:
- to burn a surface of so as to change its color and texture
The trials of life burn us; they change us. Some people, for good—have you ever heard that after a wildfire, somehow, the soil becomes richer and allows for better vegetation? But sometimes, the fires of life destroy people. They change the color and texture of their hearts to gray stone.
We, as people of God, pray that our hearts are changed to become white as snow, “that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Ephesians 1:4). We pray they soften to allow the lessons God wants us to learn to soak in.
Here are the purposes of your scorched places.
God leads us in scorched places.
They shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. Isaiah 49:10
In the middle of these places, you may not know what to do. You may sit in a pile of clay shards like Job, bemoaning your situation. You may fast or lie on the ground, as David did while his son was dying. You may go completely numb—is there any future for you? Any hope?
What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind. Job 23:14
God’s plan is to lead you. He may lead you through the wilderness of the scorched place for a long time…or he may guide you back out to living waters. Whatever he plans hold fast to the promise that one day He’ll lead you right into his eternal presence: For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17
God blesses us in scorched places.
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11
Isn’t that interesting that these verses I’m referring to also mention springs of living water? I really love that. What is more refreshing to a scorched place than water? And specifically, living water? the water of Jesus’ presence and life and Word and sacrifice.
I see here 3 specific things God does in scorched places:
- He will satisfy our desire. (HAPPINESS)
- He will make our bones strong. (STRENGTH)
- He will make us into a garden. (GROWTH)
God will give us HAPPINESS that lasts through any situation, STRENGTH to tackle whatever life throws our way, and most of all GROWTH—being changed into Jesus’ image.
God promises an end to scorched places.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:16-17
One day, scorched places will be no more. I’m always so curious if we’ll remember all the things we went through and the emotions that came along with it. I have a feeling that once God wipes those tears from our eyes, He will also remove the memories and leave only the remembrance that He was with us through it all and grew us to be like Jesus.
It’s nice to know that this is only temporary. That we must do the best with what we have right now, and one day we’ll have so much more. But it’s also to know that what we do right now isn’t worthless; all the times we choose God over the world and love over hate, that adds to our heavenly joy.
