Springs in the Desert

‘** Who, passing through the valley of weeping, make it a place of springs.” — Psaum lxxxiv. 6. Tue word of the Psalmist would almost suggest that this wonderful transformation was effected by the pilgrims themselves as they trudged along the dry and gloomy valley. They made the valley a place of springs. In a certain way this is gloriously true. The refreshing springs were really great discoveries, but the pilgrims had cultivated the faith and the disposition which are the instruments of vision, and it was by means of these spiritual ministries that the mystic waters were found. In a very true way a new lens is a creator of a new world. What a revelation it is to a man of dull and imperfect sight when he first puts on a pair of glasses which rectify his weakness! What new imagery! What light! What colour! And so it is with a change of heart. Life is transformed by a new medium, and we discover a new world, abounding in spiritual resources, and musical with laughing, cheery springs of grace.

Here is a pilgrim travelling through the valley of affliction in feverish and impatient mood. What is the valley like to such a traveller? It is hard and cheerless. It is like a lava-strewn countryside after a volcanic eruption. Everything is black, and grey, and forbidding. It is just a dry and joyless waste. But if the pilgrim’s mood could be changed into the patience of Christ, what a change there would be in the valley! For patience is a minister of fine discernment. It is endowed with the rarest senses. An inconsiderate judgment might suppose that impatience is more sensitive than patience, but that is never so. Impatience is irritable, and irritable folk are really very insensitive. They are acute in a small segment, they are numb in the circuit of the larger circle. Patience is alert on the entire circumference. Patience is very quick in seeing and hearing. When our patience in Christ has her “* perfect work”? our discernments are brought to superlative refinement. We hear the running brook in the desert, and we have the divining rod which discovers the wells of salvation. We make the valley a place of springs.

Or take even finer graces still. Here is a misanthropist in the valley of affliction. What does he find in the valley? He finds nothing but aches and pains. Nothing bears the token of grace. He hears no running streams of grace. It is a ghastly journey. But now transform the misanthropist into a lover! Exchange the dark spiritual medium for one lucent as a diamond! And it is amazing what friendly presences abound in the valley. Mercies and tokens of Providence troop out on every side. The valley becomes a place of springs.

It makes a whole world of difference whether we go through the valley of affliction in the spirit of faith, or in darkening unbelief, whether we journey alone or in the confidence of God’s companionship. In times like these through which we are passing the valley can be a terrible place! But if we travel with the Lord our distress will not be unrelieved. We shall discover the springs which the Lord of the country has appointed for His pilgrims. We shall drink of the brook by the way.

Qe