Wilderness

With the vote of Education cuts coming up tomorrow, some are predicting that both further and higher education will be turned into a wilderness. The rich and successful will thrive, as they usually do, while those from less favoured backgrounds will be left out. The aspirations of the strong and fit will be fruitful, but those of the vulnerable and weak will wither and die.
Much of the Old & New Testaments address the issues of living in or on the edge of the wilderness. Significantly, the people of faith learn from that experience what it is to trust God when times are hard. But the Prophet Isaiah sets out the future promises of God against the background of the experience of living in the wilderness.
'Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
      The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
      and singing and joy!
   The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
      as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
   There the Lord will display his glory,
      the splendour of our God.
 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
      and encourage those who have weak knees.
 Say to those with fearful hearts,
      “Be strong, and do not fear,
   for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
      He is coming to save you.” (Isaiah 35.1-4)
In the bleakness of many people's lives - whether facing education cuts, or uncertainty over jobs and health and whatever - these promises provide the hope which strengthens tired hands and weak knees!
The promise that He is coming to save you is great news, and we can learn to live in the light of this today. How amazing.
Best wishes,
Richard